Potsdam trustees balking at request

POTSDAM — Steven W. Yurgartis tried in vain to get his fellow trustees to make contributions toward their village health insurance benefits for the coming fiscal year Monday night.

The three members of the village Board of Trustees who take health benefits as part-time employees were not interested in putting money toward their insurance without having more time to discuss the issue first.

Mayor Reinhold J. Tischler, Deputy Mayor Ruth F. Garner and Trustee George F. Regan all take the health insurance as part-time village employees. According to the village, their coverage costs taxpayers about $35,000 a year.

"I personally think it's time that the board establishes a policy wherein employees are asked to contribute to health care. We could start by carrying this through with non-union staff," Mr. Yurgartis said. "We have to have a balance between what we ask the taxpayers to cover and what we ask the employees to cover."

Mr. Yurgartis estimated that since 2006, the cost of health, dental and pharmacy benefits has increased 32.6 percent on average each year.

Treasurer David H. Fenton said the health insurance program that covers the Civil Service Employees Association members and village management staff will cost about $118,000 more in 2009-10 because there have been more claims than usual. The next contract negotiation with CSEA won't take place until 2011.

"I don't believe in balancing our budget on the backs of our employees, and we are not going to do it tonight," Mrs. Garner said. "I've seen in the past when we rush into some of these policy things and regret it. I don't see how we could do it, and I object."

The mayor suggested the village might be able to join the same health insurance program that the county uses for its employees in the future, but wanted to wait to have that conversation with union officials.

"Moving to a different group that's larger would allow our costs to be positioned over a broader spectrum," Trustee Abigail D. Lee said. "That's something we have to look at next year."

Mr. Regan said that full health insurance is one of the factors that allows the village to attract and retain employees.

"Where are they going to get the money (to make contributions)?" Mr. Regan asked. "Maybe if we got our raise high enough, we might be able to talk about changing health benefits."

Trustees also did not seem amenable to taking a pay cut, as Mr. Yurgartis has suggested again this year. Mrs. Garner said she wished she could take a raise from her trustee salary of $5,500. The mayor earns $9,500.