Tufts addresses issues before Andover PEC meeting

Meeting will be closed to the public

Today's Eagle Tribune reports that "a group of Town employees will meet behind closed doors tomorrow to decide whether to go along with a request from the Board of Selectman to reopen health insurance negotiations."  This is one final opportunity to save Andover residents and employees $1 million by simply changing from Blue Cross to Tufts Health Plan.

The Eagle Tribune reported the following about the PEC (Public Employee Committee) meeting:

Meeting Time.  Wed, May 28th, 3:30pm. School administration building, 36 Bartlet St (on 2nd or 3rd floor according to the article).

Closed Meeting.  Residents and media cannot attend. Who will meet with the PEC and whether elected officials can attend is unclear. 

Press Coverage. Local reporters and I plan to cover the story from outside the meeting room. Several of you expressed interest in joining us.

No Recusal.  The Town Manager — who the Eagle Tribune revealed is on the board of MIIA, the group offering the higher-cost Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan — has not yet recused himself due to his conflict of interest.

Eagle Tribune article highlights:

• Firefighters union supports changing to Tufts to save the town and its members money
• Several unions refused to comment
• Several unions failed to attend meetings where the health-insurance information was presented
• Kerry Costello, Teachers Union president, said, "while Tufts would have saved money for the town, it wouldn't have saved individual subscribers.  A 2% increase [referring to the MIIA plan] is relatively small..."

Click here to read the Eagle Tribune Article.  (May require a digital subscription.)

IMPORTANT NOTE:  We just received this letter from Tufts Health Plan this evening that addresses many of the issues raised in the Eagle Tribune article.

Thank you for your support!

Bob Landry
TownofAndover.com