Taxpayers soon will provide health and life insurance to members of the City Council.
The council Monday night approved an ordinance making councilors eligible for these benefits by amending Chapter 2 of the Carmel City Code. The changes become effective Jan. 1.
Currently, such benefits are eligible only to full-time employees of the city, including elected officials serving in the offices of mayor, city judge and clerk-treasurer. Councilors, however, were not originally deemed full-time employees and therefore were ineligible.
Councilors who participate will pay 25 percent of the premiums, with the city covering the rest.
According to Barb Lamb, the city’s director of human resources, an employee-only package for a councilor would cost the city $6,123 per year. A family coverage package would cost $20,960. Life insurance would cost about $90 per participating councilor per year, she said.
Some current members have said that many councilors often work more than the number of hours required in a full-time position and that if the city’s other elected officials are eligible, also making these benefits available to the council would be equitable.
Councilman John Accetturo and Joe Griffiths voted against the ordinance.