Seekonk Selectmen Adopt New Health Care Law

The Seekonk Board of Selectmen voted 2-0 Wednesday to adopt new legislation that would give the town the ability to change its health care plans to lower the cost to the town.

Dave Parker abstained from the vote and Selectmen Francis Cavaco and Bob McClintock were absent.

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 32B, Sections 21-23 allows municipalities in the Commonwealth to re-evaluate their health care plans and policies. It also allows towns to keep 75 percent of savings on health care, while the remaining 25 percent would go back to the employee unions.

Prior to the new legislation the only way to make any changes to employee’s health insurance would have been through the collective bargaining process.

“We will implement this by July 1st,” said Town Administrator Pamela Nolan.

Nolan said she does not know the exact dollar amount of the savings at this time, but estimates it would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Nolan said the unions did not want to go to the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) and would prefer the town choose a different plan.

“We expect to be able to implement July 1," Nolan said. "It will reduce the costs of our health insurance dramatically."

Other Selectmen Meeting Notes:

• Voted to declare four OP Tech Eagle voting machines as surplus.
• Voted to send a letter of support to Senator Marc Pacheco of Taunton for keeping the Taunton State Hospital open.
• Voted to finalize the financing of a new ambulance.
• Voted to put in a stop sign at the intersection of Coleman Street and Newman Avenue.
• Recommended a budget of $408,000 for safety communications.
• Cancelled the scheduled meeting of the Selectmen on March 13 in order to support the Save-A-Pet auction  that night.
• The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for 7 p.m., Feb. 22.