| LovelandPolitics.com |
| Council Denies City Manager Plan To Feather Retiree Nests Vote fails 4 to 4 after City Manager lobbies Council to extend emplyee benefits to retirees and lashes out after vote |
Loveland - July 15, 2008
The Loveland City Council, absent Mayor Pielin, split on a 4 to 4 vote to continue providing
health benefits for certain city employees who retire early before reaching 65 years of age (the
city's normal age of retirement for non-emergency personnel). After the measure failed to
garner a majority of the council's support, City Manager Don Williams angrily shot back
partisan comments towards Councilman Skowron who was vocal in opposing the measure.
Williams, born December 20, 1947, helped craft the plan that isn't based on need, job type or
any criteria other than time of service and age which he and only 22 other senior and mostly
highly paid city employees neatly fit into this year. City staff has speculated Williams is trying
to feather his nest in preperation for an early retirement.
Mayor Pro Tem David Clark, who chaired the meeting, asked if Williams had any comments
immediately following the vote. Williams first stated, "Yeah I do, but I ought to keep it to
myself." Moments later Williams spoke anyway by attacking Skowron's comments and
angrily denouncing the council's decision. Clark asked earlier if there was any interest in
bringing the proposal back when other information is provided and several councilors
indicated they did want to have staff look into some questions and bring the item back perhaps
in a future study session.
Williams angrily stated, "If council wants to bring it up in the retreat next year - go ahead but
staff will not bring it up again [this year]." LovelandPolitics learned that councilors from both
sides have privately communicated their desire to have the issue return and expressed their
concern that Williams was telling them what they could or could not put on the agenda.
The proposal, named the 80 plan, proposed providing city employees of 20 years or more
who have reached the age of 60 health insurance for the next 5 years if they retire and was
presented by Loveland's Human Resource Director Todd Gamble. Gamble provided a letter
to the City Council stating,
"The retiree medical plan is designed to provide access to affordable medical coverage
for eligible City employees who retire from employment with the City. The plan will be
available for the next five years for employees who retire with no less than 20 years of
service and are at least age 60. Eligible retirees can only be covered under the plan
until age 65."
Councilman Walt Skowron questioned the special benefit being provided to departing city
employees at a time when the private sector is hurting and benefits are being cut. Similar
comments were also made by his colleagues concerned about the cost to the city and lack of
pertinent data like information on what other municipalities provide.
Councilman Glenn Rousey appeared irritated as he engaged Skowron in a back-and-forth
argument over whether the Council had been provided sufficient information. Rousey
complained the issue had been around for 4 years and that council already heard a
presentation on it during a study session. Councilman Kent Solt commented since he was new
to the Council he didn't have the benefit of that history and supported discussing it at a future
study session.
Rousey offered an alternative to cover emergency service personnel only beginning at age 55 if
they retire (emergency service personal may retire at an earlier age). While the vote for the
alternative failed, Councilman Cecil Gutierrez expressed interest in supporting the measure in
the future if he could have more information. Gutierrez also stated his no vote on the 80 plan
as a "reluctant no" since he wants to especially support emergency service employees but
needed more time and information.
Curiously, the 80 plan being proposed covers only the next 5 years. Skowron asked a
number of questions to Gamble who responded, "I don't know" to which Skowron proposed
the item come back to council when they have better information. The number 80 represents
the total number of city employees who may be eligible in the next 5 years for the benefit.
Gamble reported only 15-20 employees each year would be eligible for the benefit if they
retired before age 65.
David Clark, in defense of the proposal, stated "If I had more information I wouldn't know
what to do with it.....I am not understanding, perhaps." The councilors who voted for the
plan, with the exception of Glenn Rousey, said very little or nothing in the discussion.
The Loveland City Council, absent Mayor Pielin, split on a 4 to 4 vote to continue providing
health benefits for certain city employees who retire early before reaching 65 years of age (the
city's normal age of retirement for non-emergency personnel). After the measure failed to
garner a majority of the council's support, City Manager Don Williams angrily shot back
partisan comments towards Councilman Skowron who was vocal in opposing the measure.
Williams, born December 20, 1947, helped craft the plan that isn't based on need, job type or
any criteria other than time of service and age which he and only 22 other senior and mostly
highly paid city employees neatly fit into this year. City staff has speculated Williams is trying
to feather his nest in preperation for an early retirement.
Mayor Pro Tem David Clark, who chaired the meeting, asked if Williams had any comments
immediately following the vote. Williams first stated, "Yeah I do, but I ought to keep it to
myself." Moments later Williams spoke anyway by attacking Skowron's comments and
angrily denouncing the council's decision. Clark asked earlier if there was any interest in
bringing the proposal back when other information is provided and several councilors
indicated they did want to have staff look into some questions and bring the item back perhaps
in a future study session.
Williams angrily stated, "If council wants to bring it up in the retreat next year - go ahead but
staff will not bring it up again [this year]." LovelandPolitics learned that councilors from both
sides have privately communicated their desire to have the issue return and expressed their
concern that Williams was telling them what they could or could not put on the agenda.
The proposal, named the 80 plan, proposed providing city employees of 20 years or more
who have reached the age of 60 health insurance for the next 5 years if they retire and was
presented by Loveland's Human Resource Director Todd Gamble. Gamble provided a letter
to the City Council stating,
"The retiree medical plan is designed to provide access to affordable medical coverage
for eligible City employees who retire from employment with the City. The plan will be
available for the next five years for employees who retire with no less than 20 years of
service and are at least age 60. Eligible retirees can only be covered under the plan
until age 65."
Councilman Walt Skowron questioned the special benefit being provided to departing city
employees at a time when the private sector is hurting and benefits are being cut. Similar
comments were also made by his colleagues concerned about the cost to the city and lack of
pertinent data like information on what other municipalities provide.
Councilman Glenn Rousey appeared irritated as he engaged Skowron in a back-and-forth
argument over whether the Council had been provided sufficient information. Rousey
complained the issue had been around for 4 years and that council already heard a
presentation on it during a study session. Councilman Kent Solt commented since he was new
to the Council he didn't have the benefit of that history and supported discussing it at a future
study session.
Rousey offered an alternative to cover emergency service personnel only beginning at age 55 if
they retire (emergency service personal may retire at an earlier age). While the vote for the
alternative failed, Councilman Cecil Gutierrez expressed interest in supporting the measure in
the future if he could have more information. Gutierrez also stated his no vote on the 80 plan
as a "reluctant no" since he wants to especially support emergency service employees but
needed more time and information.
Curiously, the 80 plan being proposed covers only the next 5 years. Skowron asked a
number of questions to Gamble who responded, "I don't know" to which Skowron proposed
the item come back to council when they have better information. The number 80 represents
the total number of city employees who may be eligible in the next 5 years for the benefit.
Gamble reported only 15-20 employees each year would be eligible for the benefit if they
retired before age 65.
David Clark, in defense of the proposal, stated "If I had more information I wouldn't know
what to do with it.....I am not understanding, perhaps." The councilors who voted for the
plan, with the exception of Glenn Rousey, said very little or nothing in the discussion.
| How they voted: No Walt Skowron, Darryl Klassen, Cecil Gutierrez and Kent Solt. Yes David Clark, Carol Johnson, Glenn Rousey and Larry Heckel |
| "If I had more information I wouldn't know what to do with it" David Clark Mayor Pro Tem |
| "If council wants to bring it up in the retreat next year - go ahead but staff will not bring it up again [this year]." City Manager Don Williams In Response To Council's Request the Item Be Brought to Study Session |
| Above: Councilman Walt Skowron lead the oppossition to a proposal by Loveland's City Manager to provide employee health benefits to early retirees, Councilman Rousey argued in favor. |