The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Thursday, May 15, 2003

Police union nixes health insurance change

While the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission was under the impression months ago that the Fraternal Order of Police agreed to a change in member health-care coverage, a letter from the police union president states the contrary.

The police department, which covers Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex, previously had hospitalization through the Northwest Pennsylvania Cooperation Council, but its rates were expected to jump as much as 18.5 percent. To improve coverage and keep monthly rates the same at $14,450, or $173,400 annually, the commission switched to the Teamsters Union health-care plan. Vision and dental coverage was added, and the prescription plan and life insurance were improved. The rates were good through 2003.

But a letter dated April 15 to the commission from Sgt. William Hite, FOP president, says the commission failed to negotiate the change and the FOP is not in agreement with the new benefits package.

In a follow-up letter, FOP attorney Michael S. Barr adds that if the level of life and health insurance isn't placed where it was prior to the new offer, the FOP will be forced to take the issue to binding arbitration.

Commission members said they thought the amendment was negotiated with the FOP and acceptable when it was adopted. They had no clue it wasn't wanted.

"I thought they were happy with it," West Middlesex Mayor David George said of the improved health-care coverage.

"We never got a 'no' answer," Wheatland Mayor Tom Stanton added at the commission board meeting Tuesday.

Robert Tesone, the commission's solicitor, sent a written reply to both Hite and Barr hoping to resolve the issue, but Tesone said he never received a response from either of them.

"I'm assuming the president of the FOP is telling us to rescind the agreement because it's not acceptable to the FOP," Commission Chairman Jim DeCapua said.

In Hite's defense, Police Chief Riley Smoot Jr. said Hite was vacationing for 10 days and may not have received Tesone's letter. Before the issue came up, Smoot said, he wasn't aware it was an issue.

After an executive session Tuesday, the police commission rescinded the change in health-care coverage. The total monthly payments have exceeded the monthly $14,450 anyhow, with last month's payment at $15,556, DeCapua said.

The old premium ended Dec. 31 and payments were being sent for the new coverage since January. The commission will have to notify retirees of the premium changes.



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