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 BankVivian 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, ___________________ |