Newbern aldermen restore insurance privileges, give raises, finalize budget

The Newbern Board of Aldermen restored health insurance privileges to the board Tuesday night, reversing last week's vote to end health insurance coverage for aldermen.

Alderman Robert Hart, who is covered by the insurance, voted to end insurance coverage for aldermen last week, but made a motion to rescind that action last night.

"I move to rescind the action on June 21, 2005 which canceled the health insurance coverage for the members of the board of aldermen," Hart said at the meeting. "Any board member that wants to come off the insurance has the right to do so."

Aldermen Mary Dykus, Larry Fesmire and Olen Parker voted with Hart. Fesmire and Dykus both qualify for the city's health insurance coverage.

Bill Parks and Kathy Clements voted against rescinding last week's decision. Parks is covered by the insurance, but has said he will come off the insurance voluntarily.

"I want my name off the insurance as of in the morning at eight o'clock." Parks said.

Hart promised to come off the insurance as soon as he gets other insurance, which he promised would be in the near future.

Clements then accused Hart of discussing the decision with other board members in private, essentially accusing him of violating Tennessee's open meetings law.

"Have you talked to everybody else on the board except me about this?" Clements asked Hart.

Hart said the decision was his own, and he was not coerced into changing his vote.

"Bill [Parks], has anyone talked to you about rescinding this before tonight?" Clements asked.

Parks responded, "Yes."

When queried by Clements, Fesmire and Parker also said they had talked with someone about rescinding the vote Tuesday night.

"Nobody's asked me about it," Clements said. She said she only learned about it after receiving the agenda for the meeting.

Audience member Patrick Rogers asked, "This decision you just made for the city, is this in the best interest of the city or for the board?"

Alderman Parks promptly answered, "For the board."

The board also voted down a motion, tabled from last week, to give all department heads a $3 per hour raise, except for the electric department head, who would have received a $4 per hour raise.

The board did however pass a new motion to give the electric department and water and sewer department heads a $2 per hour raise. They also gave the police chief and the heads of the gas, streets and recreation departments $1.50 per hour raises. The utilities office manager received a $1 per hour raise.

With the raises out of the way, the board voted to approve the 2005-2006 budget.