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BUCKS COUNTY CONSORTIUM
Thursday, May 5, 2005
Meeting Minutes
A meeting of the Bucks County Consortium was held at Buckingham Township on May 5, 2005. The following individuals were present:
Charles Barrett, Commerce Bank
Vivian Bell, Warrington Township
John Boyle, Newtown Township
Eileen Bradley, Wrightstown Township
Bill Cmorey, Bensalem Township
John Cornelius, New Britain Township
David Drye, Chalfont Borough
Steve Fallon, Insurance Buyer’s Council
Joseph Golden, Upper Southampton Township
Kathleen Goldhahn, Northampton Township
Tom Harwood, Newtown Township
Dan Kerr, West Rockhill Township
Rick Lee, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust
Timothy O’Reilly, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Dan Olpere, Perkasie Borough
Robert Pellegrino, Newtown Township
Richard Sabol, Upper Southampton Township
Tom Scott, Warwick Township
Ray Stepnoski, Buckingham Township
Marilyn Stecker, Milford Township
Elizabeth Sunday, Plumstead Township
Jeffrey Vey, Milford Township
Linda Wieand, Tinicum Township
Gail Weniger, Warwick Township
Paul Williams, Dublin Borough
Preliminary Remarks
Jeffrey Vey called the meeting to order, announced the morning's agenda, and thanked Buckingham Township for sponsoring the May meeting of the Bucks County Consortium.
Minutes
Eileen Bradley made a motion, seconded by Robert Pellegrino, to approve the Minutes of 7 April 2005. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer’s Report for April was presented. The Treasurer reported that a check for $2,000 was issued in April for creating the Bucks County Consortium website.
Jeff Vey discussed the website’s current and future configuration. When completed he stated that it would include vendor lists, links, electronic bill room, etc. Robert Pellegrino asked that members e-mail to him any content that can be posted on the site.
A motion was made by Eileen Bradley, and seconded by Kathleen Goldhahn, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for April. Motion carried.
Presentation: “ Current Trends in Municipal Labor Law ”
Timothy P. O’ Reilly, Esquire, presented. Mr. O’ Reilly is a labor relations attorney with Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius in Philadelphia. He represents many Bucks County municipalities in collective bargaining, union organization, unfair labor practices, grievance arbitrations, discipline, and termination hearings. Included in his presentation on “Current Trends in Municipal Labor Law” were the following subjects: the role of the National Labor Relations Board and Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, the collective bargaining process, recent court cases (e.g., Weingarten) affecting municipal employees, recent arbitration issues and awards, avoiding post-retirement medical benefits, retirement DROP plans and the impact of including fixed interest rates, the pitfalls of disciplining and firing employees, etc.
Robert Pellegrino reported on the DROP program in Newtown Township.
Presentation: “Post Retirement Medical Benefit Trends”
Steve Fallon is Director of the Employee Benefits Practice for the Insurance Buyer’s Council in Cockeysville, Maryland. Mr. Fallon has many years of experience with employee benefits programs and currently serves as benefits consultant to the Delaware Valley Insurance Trust. His presentation dealt with current trends in post retirement medical benefits coverage and options to the traditional practice of insuring retired employees on group health insurance plans. Included in his presentation on “Post Retirement Medical Benefit Trends” were the following subjects: a tax advantage trust called a VEEBA, GASB 45 and the reporting of health related liabilities, employee and retired employee health contributions, HMO’s, legislation affecting post-retirement medical benefits, etc.
Tom Harwood reported on the relationship between the Second Class Township Code and post-retirement benefits.
Old & New Business
Jeff Vey reported on the work of the Transportation Committee, and that a tentative date for the annual picnic was July 22. Also, he asked that the membership consider topics for its annual roundtable discussion.
Gail Weniger discussed the Consortium website, and reported on how it might be used to identify vendors, and obtain better pricing for municipal purchases.
Robert Pellegrino stated that the guest speaker for June would be Dave M. Sanko, Bucks County’s Chief Operating Officer, and that the meeting would be held at Doylestown Township.
Adjourn
Paul Williams made a motion, seconded by Dan Olpere to adjourn the May meeting of the Bucks County Consortium @ approximately 10:55AM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
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