DUBOIS – Elected officials in DuBois City will no longer have the option to receive provided healthcare. Those with provided healthcare will lose their coverage.
When new council members took office, they—along with the new mayor—learned some other elected officials were being provided with healthcare through the city.
City Mayor Pat Reasinger and Council Members Jennifer Jackson and Elliot Gelfand all reported Monday night that they have turned down offers for coverage.
Instead, they decided to do some research and found there was never a public vote to authorize this benefit that, according to council, started in 2016.
The interim solicitor’s firm, represented Monday night by Josh Brown, suggested that if council wanted to offer healthcare that it should vote through the ordinance system.
But, council voted to end provided healthcare for, according to Reasinger, a yearly savings of around $62,000. Council member Jim Aughenbaugh abstained from the vote.
Jackson began to share her opinion about whether the city should receive reimbursement for monies spent on provided healthcare but was interrupted by the solicitor.
He said the firm hasn’t done any research with that regard and hasn’t been directed to. At that point, council voted, 3-2, to provide the authorization.
Aughenbaugh and Council Member Shane Dietz abstained.
Also, on Monday night, the city addressed an issue as to whether it was a conflict for Reasinger to serve as mayor as well as on the Redevelopment Committee.
It was determined to be a conflict, and so Reasinger resigned from his committee post. Anyone interested in the position can contact Interim City Manager Chris Nasuti.