Brightwaters trustees delay benefits vote

Brightwaters trustees, facing increasing public push-back about their village-sponsored health benefits, put off a vote on the issue this week.

They hope to draft a plan this month that will outline benefits for current and future trustees.

At the board's regular meeting on Monday, more than 100 residents attended for a discussion of what some suggested were excessive and expensive health benefits for the panel.

Brightwaters' elected officials began receiving free family coverage in 1997. In 2001, the board extended lifetime benefits to trustees serving 10 years or more. Trustee health benefits cost the village about $72,000 a year, or $66 annually for the average taxpayer, officials said.

On Monday, village trustees heard the preliminary findings of a committee appointed to research the benefits and their costs.

Jack Riordan, who sits on the committee, told the board that health care costs have "risen dramatically" and will "continue to increase in the future." He said the committee plans to look into how other municipalities compensate their elected officials.

After hearing from the committee, the trustees introduced a resolution that would have allowed them to keep their benefits intact, while requiring future trustees to contribute 5 percent of their annual health care costs and receive benefits only while in office.

Most residents at the meeting balked at the resolution and said they were concerned about the potential impact on village finances and taxes.

"We are not happy with this plan," said Greg Rabin, 46, one of several who spoke against the resolution. "We're talking about elected officials who volunteered their time receiving lifetime benefits. It's not fair to the residents."

After the meeting, village Mayor Joseph McNulty said the board will come up with an alternative plan and make a decision at the village's mid-month meeting, the date of which has not been set.

"We'll do what's right for the village," said McNulty, who has said the health benefits are an earned perk of volunteering on the board. "I don't know if my opinion has changed, but I'm certainly going to take what . . . [residents] say into consideration."