By PAULENE POPARAD

A citizen watchdog Tuesday questioned why Porter Town Council members, who she considers part-time public servants, can participate in the town’s health insurance plan for $1 per month.

Resident Jennifer Klug said with members Michele Bollinger, Michael Genger and Bill Sexton using town insurance, last month it cost a total $3,402 in public money or $40,835 a year for coverage for them and their spouse/families.

“Insurance premiums generally increase in price over time so the total expenditure may be more if this is allowed to continue,” Klug told the council under public comment. “This money can be better spent on our community. Town Council members should pay the entire amount of any insuance premiums.”

Klug estimated that over their four-year term it would cost taxpayers $163,342 in public money to insure the three council members and their respective dependents. She used public records including claim vouchers to determine that amount.

Klug made the distinction that it’s good to provide health insurance for full-time town employees including elected Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy. However, “Town Council members are not full-time employees and, although the law says they are eligible for health insurance, it is unfair to our community for public funds to be used to pay for their premiums,” said Klug, especially at a time when Porter’s tax draws are late and gas prices are soaring. “Just how carefully is the Town Council really spending?”

Klug said in April of this year the town paid $1,259.78 each for coverage for Bollinger and Genger and their respective dependents and $883.40 for Sexton and his wife. Today, Pomeroy said each council member pays $1 per month like other town employees for their own coverage, but Sexton also pays $102.17 monthly toward the town’s $510.88 premium to insure his spouse. Bollinger and Genger each pay $196 per month for their spouse/family and the town pays $784.44.

Last night Sexton and Bollinger accepted Klug’s comments without response. After the meeting Sexton said, “She has the right to say whatever she wants, but anyone who thinks a Town Council member doesn’t put in a full-time job is sorely mistaken.” He said he uses the town insurance plan because although he owns his own business, the number of employees is too small to justify the high cost of insurance coverage.

Bollinger had no comment other than to say she opted for the town insurance “because it was offered.” Genger was absent.

This morning Chesterton Clerk-treasurer Gayle Polakowski said while some Town Council members have used their insurance plan in the past, no current members are doing so now but if they do it isn’t cheap for them to participate because they pay the town’s actual monthly cost for family coverage and for single coverage.

Burns Harbor Clerk-treasurer Jane Jordan said it’s their own policy decision that Town Council members can’t participate in the town’s health-insurance plan. Furthermore, if a town employee’s spouse can get coverage elsewhere, they can’t be on the town’s plan.

She said in the past it’s been discussed whether extending insurance to council members would help attract more candidates at election time. The Porter County League of Councils also has discussed communities joining together to get a group plan to save money, added Jordan, but legislation might be needed to do that.

Posted 5/28/2008