Gaston commissioners rescind controversial health insurance perk

Gaston residents told county commissioners Tuesday they were angry and ashamed over last week’s unanimous vote giving board members health insurance for life at taxpayer expense after they leave office.

Residents voiced their concerns at a meeting where commissioners retreated and voted 5-0 to rescind that plan.

Virginia Feimster’s sentiments were typical. She said people from across the political spectrum were upset by the board’s actions, adding, “You should be ashamed because I’m ashamed of you.”

Board Chairman Tracy Philbeck acknowledged there was confusion over the issue. “It was never the intention of this board to ask the community to subsidize our health insurance.”

He apologized for “putting Gaston County through this situation.”

Last week, commissioners approved a plan where they would be eligible to purchase health insurance coverage after leaving office if they served at least four years. The county would pay for the bulk of the coverage.

Other counties in the Charlotte region, including Mecklenburg, Union and Cabarrus County, do not offer such perks.

Gaston County offers traditional co-pay and high-deductible health savings account plans.

Under last week’s vote, for instance, a commissioner would have biweekly costs of $18.72 for individual coverage in the traditional plan and $128.21 for himself and his family, while the county would pay $322.65 for the individual cost and $586.47 for the family.

Gaston commissioner Tom Keigher said he regretted his initial vote almost as soon as he had cast it.

“It was not a clear understanding on my part the cost it was going to cost taxpayers,” he said. Keigher said he thought he was voting on a plan where commissioners would pay for full coverage.

Philbeck acknowledged that the board did not contact the human resources department before the vote last week.

About 50 people attended the meeting, with more than a dozen addressing the board.

“I have been embarrassed and ashamed that I voted for those of you that I did,” said Barbara Davis. “You are not entitled to any benefits that are not available to the average citizen.”

She told the all-male board that if the job is too much for them financially there were lots of ladies in the audience who would take their place.

When first faced with the controversy last week, Philbeck suggested an alternative plan. He said commissioners who leave the board pay for coverage without any taxpayer money, and that they would have to be on the board for 10 years instead of four to get coverage.

That plan was not brought up Tuesday as the board voted just to rescind the prior vote. Two board members were absent and a third voted over the phone.

Philbeck ignored reporters’ questions after the meeting.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Gaston commissioners rescind controversial health insurance perk."