At the first night of Town Meeting members passed articles 1 – 15 of the Town Warrant, most unanimously. However, one article met with resistance, not for its specific language and purpose, but for the acquiescence it represented regarding unions and their position regarding the GIC (Group Insurance Commission).
Article 7 called for a set aside to fund collective bargaining agreements that had not yet been finalized. Town Meeting Member Rick Ward rose to oppose appropriating any amounts due to lack of cooperation from the unions to join the GIC. The GIC is a health insurance program for state employees. It represents a lower cost alternative and Ward said the savings to Milton could be in the millions.
Ward did not oppose the possibility of wage increases but believed that the town had no leverage for getting the unions to sign onto the plan. “I don’t begrudge the unions [receiving a salary increase]. I do begrudge unions for not joining the GIC.”
Towns need a majority of unions to sign on in order to realize cost savings of the plan. To date in Milton that has not happened. Unions are concerned about co-pay amounts and the fact that Blue Cross Blue Shield is not included. It does feature plans from Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Fallon and Health New England, ranked numbers 1, 3, 7 and 8 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Ward also asked why the collective bargaining agreements had not come before Town Meeting.
Ewan Innes, Chairman of the Warrant Committee, which recommended passing of the article, stated that voting “No” will “just mean no raise for employees. It does not address the health [care] issues.”
Tom Flynn, Town Counsel, also rose to clarify the point that Town Meeting can vote to fund a collective bargaining agreement but not to approve the agreement itself.
The article passed on a voice vote but received the loudest “No”s of the evening. It should be noted that the Massachusetts house recently passed legislation that would enable municipalities to more easily join the GIC, removing the need to negotiate with each and every union. Selectman Shields said “the house plan is good for us but we have to wait.”
In a Special Town Meeting that was convened a single article was approved that will authorize the Board of Selectmen to move forward with a home rule petition to enable awarding a liquor license for a restaurant being proposed for the Fallon Ambulance building at 95 Eliot Street.
There was some discussion about insurance coverage on part of person(s) receiving the license. However, recent state law has been amended to mandate coverage. State Senator Joyce also highlighted that Milton’s award of liquor licenses was tied to the location and awardee. Licenses in Milton cannot be transferred from one location to another. Nor can they be guaranteed in the event of a change in control of an establishment (e.g. Abby Park was sold and became a Friday’s).
Town Meeting will resume this evening and Moderator Walsh expects all business to be concluded tonight.