(5-13-08)
The City has appealed a decision which says it can't pay a portion of the health insurance coverage for City Council members. On Tuesday, Council took a look at the matter behind closed doors. But when they came back out into open session they didn't take any action on the issue. This means that the City is going to continue to appeal the court ruling which would put a stop to the insurance coverage now available to Council Members and the Mayor. Jack Gordy is the President of the Taxpayers Association who filed the suit against the City,"We're not against the insurance my recommendation is to increase their compensation maybe the City Council goes three times go 18-thousand and the Mayor to 27 and then deduct their compensation for the insurance and car allowance." Councilman John Marez told us,"I believe that it should be clearly stated in the city charter and I believe that's what the charter committee is working on right now and I think once they can clarify that and we put it on a referendum to the voters the voters can decide whether they feel that Council Members who choose to use the city insurance can do so." Since the City is continuing the appeals process, the court ruling is set aside until a final verdict is reached in the case. That means that Council will still be able to receive insurance coverage through the City. The appeals process could last up to six months.

Michael Gibson 3 News