Black Diamond councilors will continue paying half their health benefit premiums despite one councilor insisting they pay less.
Coun. Judy Thomson asked administration to compare the amount Black Diamond councilors pay for their health benefit premiums with other towns last month, wondering if they were on par with other communities.
After learning two municipalities - the names of which weren’t released - are paying the same percentage as their town staff, Thomson suggested council revisit its own ratio. Town employees pay 20 per cent of their health care premiums compared to councilors who pay 50 per cent.
“The other communities I know of are covered like the rest of the staff,” Thomson told council at its Dec. 16 meeting. “Our neighbours to the west have been getting benefits for years. Why would we separate that from the other departments in town?”
Rather than change the premium payment ratio, council voted to keep it as-is. Thomson and mayor Sharlene Brown didn’t support the decision.
Coun. Mike Ross said council isn’t entitled to the same benefits as town employees, and the amount participating councilors pay should remain as-is.
“I don’t see a reason to change it,” he said. “We are not employees of the town. We are catching a free ride here the way I see it. I would suggest 50/50 is pretty reasonable.”
Joanne Irwin, Black Diamond chief administrative officer, said council approved the councilors 50/50 health benefit premium ratio in June 2015.
Before that councilors didn’t have any health benefits through the Town, she said.
Irwin added the health benefits package, which includes dental and medical benefits, is optional for councilors, and not all of council has to buy into it.
Irwin said the Town pays $126 a month for each participating councilor, the same amount which is paid by the councilor.
In Turner Valley, employees and councilors pay 25 per cent of their health benefit premiums while the Town pays the remaining 75 per cent.
