February 22, 2007 Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release 738-2000
Avedisian proposes savings through consolidation of health benefits
WARWICK –Mayor Scott Avedisian announced today that an administrator for the School Department and city officials met today to explore ways that they might mutually benefit from having a health insurance consultant study the consolidation of their health insurance contracts.
Avedisian proposes that the City could partner with School Department employees to utilize the same health care consultant in its efforts to combine purchasing power to attempt to get savings in health care costs.
After discussions with School Committee Chairman Chris Friel, Avedisian called for a meeting of city officials and Robert Dooley, school department business manager, to discuss parameters for such cost savings. Dooley, Personnel Director Oscar Shelton and others are set to meet again tomorrow to continue discussions.
Avedisian said that he hopes this will be just the beginning of a new working relationship to save money and offer better health coverage for employees.
The city has budgeted money for their portion of the health care insurance consultant. The balance would come from the school department budget.