During a Workshop last week, Fairfield City Council reviewed employee health benefits and proposed pay scale, as well as revenues from property tax and enterprise fund.
Afterward, once the Special Called meeting began, Council unanimously approved a change to the employee health benefit plan.
The change was necessitated by a nine percent increase in the 2019-2020 renewal rates with TML Health Benefits Pool.
According to City Administrator Nate Smith, the City’s goal was to save costs while keeping health benefits for their employees.
By approving “Option 4,” the City will actually see a .33 percent decrease in health costs.
Employees will see a rise in deductibles and the maximum limit for out-of-pocket costs.
The plan will include $30 for office visits, $45 for specialist, $75 for urgent care, and zero co-pay for emergency room visits.
Also approved, with a unanimous vote, was an amendment to city ordinance, regarding possession or consumption of alcoholic beverage in public, to allow an exception for such sales during certain community events.
The new ordinance stipulates that a public entity or non-profit organization may apply for a Special Event Permit with the City of Fairfield to host a temporary event which serves alcohol, as defined in the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC), at a public park or public place.
In order to receive the permit, all TABC requirements must be met, including security provisions, distance from residential areas, churches, schools or daycare centers.
The special event shall not be held more than three consecutive days.
Further, the entity seeking this Special Event Permit may not apply more than three times per calendar year, nor more than one occurrence per month.
All council members were in attendance at the July 2, 2019 meeting.
