3/29/07 Special Council Meeting

[OakParkSpartan]

I guess where I am at Terri is given the state of our finances, are we duplicating services? 

Why are you surprised other towns send their seniors to social services agencies?  My gut tells me organizations that exist to deliver services to seniors are probably better and more efficient at it than one person (or two) in each city.

But I really don't know what the guy does, other than stories related by other folks.

Cheers,
Brian

[Terri]

Brian,

Honestly because I'm not a senior yet and thank goodness our family helps my mom so I have never had the need.  We do know people are living longer so the need must be out there.  Some agencies charge clients and the Advocate is a city service.  If social services are duplicated it should be looked into but I don't know that answer. 

Terri

[Cogito]

The seniors were not pleased when the trips were taken away but remember the drug forfeiture monies were used for funding because it was illegal to do so.

What was illegal?

[apatriot]

I'm a little confused about this because I know the real grunt work is volunteer, so what's wrong with that?

[OakParkSpartan]

Brian,

Honestly because I'm not a senior yet and thank goodness our family helps my mom so I have never had the need.  We do know people are living longer so the need must be out there.  Some agencies charge clients and the Advocate is a city service.  If social services are duplicated it should be looked into but I don't know that answer. 

Terri

I'd say we're at the same point...I don't know what the services offered are...nor if there are other agencies out there that do similar tasks.  To me, the first blush look indicates that *someone* is filling these needs in other communities. 

Might be a good research project for someone

CHeers,
Brian

[Curious George]

@Curious,
The person who told you Frank the Sr. Advocate is pt has the wrong information, he works full-time.  Most management/salaried employees work far more than 40 hours per week.  If I have time, I can search the Government statistics

Terri,

I understand that they probably work more than 40 hours a week, but to be going into City Hall on a Saturday and/or Sunday so late at night?  I am talking 7,8,9 & 10 pm.  Curious minds want to know why?

[Northsider--NOT Northside 7]

Frank the Senior Advocate works full-time and taught at St. Rita.  I do know he is working on a senior housing study and obtained $40,000 from MacNeal to help fund the 2 transport vans.  He has coffee/meetings for seniors to meet our Senator and State Reps., sits on the board of the Berwyn-Cicero Council of Aging and two at MacNeal.  Frank also does hospital visits, sometimes the seniors are alone, no family in the area.  My neighbor had a problem with her brother who lives with elderly parents and she said he was very helpful.  

That's what I know about our Senior Advocate.  

Terri

My pastor does that kind of stuff.

[Northsider--NOT Northside 7]

1 hiree for  PW dept.  Senior  advocate is still here.  Nothing  new  for the FD, other  than the shared dispatcher.

We are sort of $90k  or  so in  the black, but several million in the red if we do not refinance a bond.  Ald. Chapman made this point towards the end of the meeting.

I'm not sure what the plans are for the new north end firehouse...it was not in the budget, but I think it is on the wishlist.

Lobby for it.

Cheers,
Brian

How much do aldermen make anyways? do they get benefits?

[Berwyn Patsy]

Oh, let me answer this one.  Alderman make $10,000 a year and have a $5,000 expense account.  Some still choose to use free city gas pumps, at least less then they all used to. Free Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO health Insurance.
The free insurance was given as a perk a long time ago.  These issues have all come up before and have been thrashed to death by this board.  Nothing has changed to the best of my knowledge.

[OakParkSpartan]

Alderman Weiner suggested Thursday night that if people really wanted to save some money, they'd seriously look at reducing/removing the $100k per year we spend on aldermatic health insurance.

I don't think anyone even acknowledged him.

Until you get people up there that don't need the city insurance, things will not change.

I also wonder what the policy is on part-time employees and insurance coverage (and what constitutes part-time).

Cheers,
Brian

[P-PANTHER a/k/a La Pantera]

Brian,

You hit the nail right on the head. Insurance coverage is one of those "hidden" costs that burns a hole in taxpayers pocket.

[Northsider--NOT Northside 7]

Oh, let me answer this one.  Alderman make $10,000 a year and have a $5,000 expense account.  Some still choose to use free city gas pumps, at least less then they all used to. Free Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO health Insurance.
The free insurance was given as a perk a long time ago.  These issues have all come up before and have been thrashed to death by this board.  Nothing has changed to the best of my knowledge.

Anybody who has free health insurance at thier full time job let alone their part time job please raise your hand.

[P-PANTHER a/k/a La Pantera]

One more reason why I think Weiner is one of the best Berwyn aldermen in recent memory.

[Count DMC]

Alderman Weiner suggested Thursday night that if people really wanted to save some money, they'd seriously look at reducing/removing the $100k per year we spend on aldermatic health insurance.

I don't think anyone even acknowledged him.

Until you get people up there that don't need the city insurance, things will not change.

I also wonder what the policy is on part-time employees and insurance coverage (and what constitutes part-time).

Cheers,
Brian

If you only knew the half of the insurance fiasco.

[OakParkSpartan]

Alderman Weiner suggested Thursday night that if people really wanted to save some money, they'd seriously look at reducing/removing the $100k per year we spend on aldermatic health insurance.

I don't think anyone even acknowledged him.

Until you get people up there that don't need the city insurance, things will not change.

I also wonder what the policy is on part-time employees and insurance coverage (and what constitutes part-time).

Cheers,
Brian

If you only knew the half of the insurance fiasco.

Do tell...

[Berwyn Patsy]

This is one of the city issues I have about given up on, and as you can guess, I rarely give up on anything!!
This has been discussed a million times, and I think the majority of the Alderman think it is not right to take away a perk.
Too bad, so sad, isn't it??
Brian is right that waste of money will not go away until we get employees who do not need health Ins.
I can only guess, but I would have to agree with the count, on what must be a fiasco involving city Ins. benefits.

[cozynite]

Anybody who has free health insurance at thier full time job let alone their part time job please raise your hand.

I do!  I do!    It is a full time job and no, I do not work for the government.

[Chancellor]

For elected local government officials to get health insurance as part of holding office is highly unusual.  Seems like a huge waste.

[OakParkSpartan]

You are also union.

Most businesses these days find it too expensive to offer full coverage.  I pay around $150/mo for my wife and I. That's medical only (dental and vision are like $40/mo).

Cheers,
Brian

[OakParkSpartan]

For elected local government officials to get health insurance as part of holding office is highly unusual.  Seems like a huge waste.

If their position is full time (like the Mayor and Clerk), I have no problem with that. Part-timers period should not be provided coverage (I'm ok with them purchasing coverage via the group).

Cheers,
Brian