Insurance Deal In Effect Through June, 2014

Last week, town officials and union representatives met to finalize a deal that will provide about $750,000 in savings in the coming fiscal year, avoiding the need for dozens of layoffs and other cutbacks in the process.

Here are some additional details of the accord, as laid out in the memorandum of understanding and the memorandum of agreement accepted by the two sides.

Under the agreement, the town will cover 85 percent of the cost for employees enrolled in an HMO plan under the GIC, with the worker paying the other 15 percent. Also, the town will contribute 75 percent of the premium cost for any PPO plans under GIC, with the subscriber contributing the remaining 25 percent.

Those enrolled in GIC indemnity plans will see a 50/50 cost split with the town, while there will be an 85/15 split under GIC Medicare plans.

The memorandum of agreement calls for the town administrator and union representatives to begin negotiating on a successor to the current agreement by January 2, 2013. The current agreement is set to remain in effect through June 30, 2014.

If the parties do not reach a successor agreement by July 1, 2013, either side can file for "binding arbitration of all unresolved issues," including whether or not to withdraw from GIC coverage.

The agreement is also considered binding upon all of the town's health insurance subscribers, and will supersede any collective bargaining agreements or "conflicting provisions of any town policies." Also, if a specific provision of the agreement is found to be unenforceable or unlawful, the rest of the deal is expected to remain in place.

The deal was signed by Lynnfield's three selectmen: Chairman Arthur Bourque, Vice Chairman Robert MacKendrick and Clerk C. Allen Merritt. Signing on behalf of the town workers were:  Teri Campbell (Lynnfield Secretary/Clerk Association, Lynnfield Teachers Association, Unit B), Retiree Representative Judith Angelini, Lynnfield Teachers Association President Lorie Kelly, AFSCME AFL-CIO Council 93, Local 3434 President Michael Manning, Lynnfield Library Staff Association Local 4928 President Patricia Kelly, Lynnfield Firefighters IAAF Local 2472 Treasurer Michael Feinberg, Lynnfield Police Association President Nicholas Secatore and Lynnfield Public Safety Dispatchers Association President Diane Williams.