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3 <br /> Mr. O’Connell said there will likely be cost savings in the amount projected for <br />health insurance. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if there would be an advantage to increasing the health insurance <br />pool an possibly merging with the School or County. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said the City is self funding, but it could be argued that the <br />administrative fee might be less with a larger pool. He noted that the City’s health care <br />costs are lower than surrounding localities. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would like to see monetary incentives for wellness. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said that the compensation for Planning Commissioners is well <br />below State guidelines, and she would like to look at that issue. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said he thinks the funds for the market rate adjustments could <br />cover this increase, and it is just a policy decision by Council. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch and Mr. Norris agreed that Planning Commissioners’ salary should be <br />increased. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he also thinks Council’s salary should be higher. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton suggested that providing other benefits such as health insurance <br />instead of a salary increase be considered. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said staff will provide information on both the Planning <br />Commission and Council. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch suggested Council salaries be set at half of the living wage. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown suggested exploring an automatic annual increase for Council. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said that the proposed budget includes fully funding the retirement <br />plan. He said the Retirement Commission is looking at options, and noted that one <br />quarter of City employees are now in the defined benefit plan. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch suggested that instead of giving Mountainside Assisted Living facility <br />$25,000 as Council did last year, that we look at the City’s retirees and give them funding <br />on a grant basis instead. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said she is not interested in defunding Mountainside. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he has heard that Mountainside accepts some residents that <br />other facilities will not and also that the number of facilities that provide assisted living <br />are down, and he asked if those statements are correct. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox, Director of Social Services, said he will check on the issue of <br />Mountainside accepting residents that others will not, but he said yes, the number of <br />facilities is down generally. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said the amount proposed for the Ivy Landfill is the best estimate <br />available. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris asked if any localities contract with the SPCA to do animal control, <br />and Chief Longo said he is not sure about the legal mandates. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Taliaferro, Mr. Cox said the number of <br />children served through the Comprehensive Services Act has leveled off and the number <br />in foster care is down, likely due to the foster care prevention program. <br /> <br /> <br />