Lorain County commissioners tabled legislation to change the county’s employees’ health care plan during a lengthy Nov. 17 meeting that was attended by approximately 20 county employees.
The commissioners’ board room was full of employees, not only at the Nov. 17 meeting, but also the board’s Nov. 14 meeting as well regarding the health care issue.
“There’s been a lot of talk; there’s been a lot of confusion,” said Jim Sloan, a local union official, who spoke on behalf of the employees.
Sloan pointed out that his experience includes a significant amount of work handling contract negotiations.
“I would ask you guys to table this; table your vote,” he told the commissioners. “Give the employees a chance to talk about their health care with you guys, because it’s very important that we get it right, and we get it right the first time.”
Sloan continued he didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.
“We don’t want to come up here and waste your time, their time and everybody else’s time talking about this next year,” he said as he addressed the county employees in the room.
The matter was brought to the forefront earlier this year when a county employee wasn’t able to receive a medical procedure due to restrictions regarding her insurance plan.
However, the county administration has worked toward updating its 30-year-old medical insurance plan through its program, the “Lorain County Self-Insured Fund Balance Policy” for the last few years, county officials said.
The commission decided against having the discussions in executive session to offer the employees and citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the proposed changes.
“That’s what transparency looks like,” said County Administrator Jeff Armbruster as the debate came to a close.
The commission will revisit the matter at a meeting in December and hopes to have the program finalized at that time in order to implement the healthcare changes at the beginning 2024, officials said.
