Council insurance bid to be discussed at Monday meeting

Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect the date of the next City Council meeting.

METHUEN — A resolution to allow city councilors to access government health insurance will be discussed next month.

The measure, sponsored by Councilor Jana Zanni Pesce, would offer councilors the same insurance options as nonunion city employees and was originally brought up during a council meeting earlier this month, but tabled after a brief discussion. During public comment at a meeting this week the rule change was bashed for being costly and self-serving by residents and some officials.

In an interview Pesce said the resolution was about fairness and putting councilors benefit’s in line with other part time city employees.

Councilors currently receive an annual salary of $10,000.

She also pushed back against concerns over the potential cost and said historically the option has only been taken advantage of by a handful of officials at a time.

“I don’t think we should be penalized for holding elected office,” Pesce said.

Pesce said the cost is also insignificant compared to the monetary losses the city suffers due to inefficiencies in its current insurance system, which said was in desperate need for reform.

According to a financial analysis by Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Maggie Duprey, if all nine possible councilors opted for the most costly plan it could cost the city up to around $250,000 annually though potentially far less.

These calculations were only taking into account current insurance rates which are expected to increase. The city typically covers between 64% and 75% of plans.

Mayor D.J. Beauregard said the expense wasn’t budgeted for this fiscal year, which ends in July, so the city would need to find the extra money.

Pesce said she had initially put the resolution up with the aim of getting it approved before the end of the year so it could be utilized by incoming councilors.

Councilors have in the past had access to city health insurance but lost access when officials chose to increase salaries while cutting benefits. Pesce said this had been a mistake

In the proposal documents Pesce said that allowing councilors to join city insurance “promotes fairness and equity, encourages civic participation, and supports the recruitment and retention of qualified individuals for elected office.”

Councilor elect Mike Simard said during a Monday meeting that the plan takes advantage of taxpayers and urged councilors to vote against it. Councilors did not take up the resolution that night.

In January the makeup of the council will change significantly as current councilors Nick DiZoglio, Joyce Campagnone and Francisco Surillo leave the body and newly elected officials including Simard, John Drew, Ella MacLaren and Yanilda Santos are sworn in.

The resolution does not include mention of an insurance option for members of the school committee. Pesce said after serving on both bodies it was her opinion that being a councilor required a more significant time commitment.

The resolution will be discussed during a council meeting on Monday.

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