Salisbury Mayor James Ireton, Jr., is pleased to announce that he has resolved the issue of health insurance for City Council members, which has recently been a subject of disagreement. Mayor Ireton has directed that the cost of health insurance for City Council members be added to the amended budget ordinance that is to be considered by the Council at their May 26, 2009 meeting. The Mayor stated that he has researched this issue and concluded that the exclusion of this cost from the proposed budget was an error on the part of the mayor’s office. “My research shows that there has to be a separate vote by resolution to change the health care policy and contract,” said Mayor Ireton. “The mayor’s office cannot cut this funding without that vote.”
Mayor Ireton continued, “The Council can no more refuse this correction than reject other budget corrections, such as the additional cable revenues and additional payment to PAC14, or apply $27,000 additional in Highway User Funds to something other than streets. As with these examples, there does not need to be a separate budget amendment for the health insurance. Corrections to the budget have been made before by the mayor’s office during the budget process. The mayor’s office must correct this error as well.”
“I know Council President Smith supported this funding reinstatement at Tuesday night’s budget session and would want the Council to be in compliance just as much as I want the mayor’s office to be in compliance,” said the Mayor. “If the Council wishes to change the health insurance coverage policy by a resolution to be sent to my desk, then that is within their domain.”
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12 comments:
Let the fixing of past errors begin! I know people have been chomping at the bit for the new mayor to start making some changes, but this is a good sign that the changes are about to begin. It is the right thing to do. Congratulations, Mr. Mayor!
Thats our new mayor, what a breath of fresh air.
I was wondering when he was going to start doing something besides photo ops
good job Jim!
and shut up Barrie, oops... i mean anon 1:46.
How many council votes does it take to make a "resolution" to the Mayor? 3-2?
Thank you, Mr. Mayor!
You go, Mayor Ireton!
Attaboy, Ireton! Now, why the hell didn't Louise Smith show some leadership and get that done? She let this become a circus.
2:36...They can send a 3-2 resolution to the mayor, but it'll take 4 votes to override his veto.
Woo hoo! It may not be perfect yet, but Help is DEFINITELY on the way!
5:47, nope. Not hypocrites at all. The BOE increases are for retirees.
This health insurance blow up is because of the dishonest and targeted way it was done. Some of the folks cheering want to see benefits for elected officials go away. Some want them kept because it widens the pool of candidates we can draw from.
But EVERYONE who's got an ounce of conscience sees what Barrie Tilghman and her merry band were trying to do: target just two council members with families, the two she hates because they have exposed her wasteful ways.
Barrie Tilghman wanted to save the citizens a lousy $20 thousand after blowing millions of OUR money on her friends' land deals, status symbols and grand schemes.
And like Mayor Ireton said, she did it in a way that said "to hell with the rules, I'll make up my own to punish them."
That's what the fuss is about.
While we are not opposed to funding council members health insurance, you get health insurance for part timers NOWHERE, to my knowledge.
Of course, Campbell & Cohen work for the council in what amounts to full time, but it appears the others do not.
It's never been about whether elected officials should have the coverage or not.
This was CLEARLY Barrie's finger to Campbell & Cohen.
Funny how Bubba kept his mouth shut about it when his friends Michael Day and Shanie Shields were getting the benefit.
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