The Easthom Page

Various news media have written not only about the “health care issue” of the town council, but have also reported on the “outcry” from citizens on the 11% tax increase and public financing of campaigns. While the council may have made a mistake on the health care ordinance, it is my opinion we made no mistake on the tax increase or on the public financing of campaigns.

It should also be noted that the council unanimously passed this budget. The voters in 2003 approved a bond referendum for the aquatics center and parks, and we had to build and move to a huge town operations center (we had no choice.) For the past three of the past five years it has been remarkable that we have had no tax increase, given that the these projects were well underway or near completion. We’ve even been able to maintain our AAA bond rating throughout all of these projects. But now, unfortunately, we have to pay for these. The voters made a choice in 2003, and now we have to make those payments on the debt. I believe this was the worst year for a tax increase, and our budgets should improve in the next several years. The voters essentially put some nice things on the credit card, and now the payments are due. I believe these projects will make the Town a better place.

As far as public financing of campaigns, the argument that this keeps incumbents in their seats is weak and unfounded. If anything, it opens doors to many more people to run for office. We will have to see how this goes. It is a pilot project for a city in North Carolina, and I’m proud Chapel Hill is the first.

I am really interested in the fact that the health care issue brought out both town council supporters and non-supporters to speak against a decision. That is fine! Not everyone is going to agree. The issue brought out both Republicans and Democrats. Municipal decisions are not partisan, but it is always interesting to take note of the background of those that speak to such issues as tax increases. An interesting fact is that some of those that have been the most outspoken, and continue to criticize and continue to threaten to put out petitions on other items other than health care, and continue to complain, are Republicans. It is just an interesting fact.

And as people continue to complain, I understand they are in part due to frustration with regional and national issues like gas prices and the price of private health care, etc. all compounded with the local issues. Even after the council rescinded the health care vote, a recent complaint has been: “Those council members are flip-floppers”. I guess those that complain that the council flip flopped on the health care issue should rather the ordinance stay the way it was.

Ironically, the lone initial vote and the most ardent opponent to the health care ordinance will have to quit receiving this health care benefit the Town is currently paying for him, citing “now is not the time for the council to be spending money on itself” .  It should be noted that not all council members actually receive the health care benefit.    Perhaps we should study this health care benefit issue further in the future. Instead of the Town paying for the benefit, perhaps a council member leaving after 2 terms would have the option of paying the total cost for the same insurance themselves…that way they avoid having to change health insurance companies and risk not getting insurance if they have a preexisting condition. However, I never want to bring back up the issue of the Town paying for continued coverage after 2 terms, at any percentage.

Call me cynical, but I think this issue has been completely overblown….the fire was indeed started but I think it is continuing to be fueled by a group of individuals who would love nothing more than to “stick it” to the council and pave the way for their candidates next year to run.

It just makes me want to run more.

On Monday night the council faced an agenda weighing 9.5 pounds with routine matters but apparently one hot item submerged in the consent agenda. That night my mind was mainly on saving the People’s Channel, passing a town budget (that was difficult and took months), holding Time Warner Cable accountable, and passing our test pilot public financing of council campaigns. Health care for the council was the hot item buried amidst everything else.

That’s no excuse for passing it. Before the meeting, I had not heard much about it from anyone. I don’t have health care with the Town and so the issue was not on my front burner. I am not sure of my future plans on running for Town Council again, either. I did receive a call from Sally Greene explaining why the Health Care Committee came up with the recommendation it did but heard very little if anything from any citizens out there. I was also aware that Orange County commissioners receive this same benefit, as do other municipalities across the country.

Yet since the meeting, I have certainly thought about this much more (understatement), and have heard from a huge number of citizens about how insensitive the council was in casting this vote for a “life time of health care”. Even though other governments do this for their elected officials, I regret my vote for the ordinance for Chapel Hill Town Council. I think this was bad timing and a mistake.

This is not a council that is intransigent, set in its ways and so selfish that it would not consider the town’s voices in its decision. I’m confident we will address this issue head on.

I hope we abolish this ordinance once and for all.

I will say that serving on the council has many costs that are not so apparent to the average citizen. For one, although it is listed as part time, it really isn’t. This council position as I have stated before, has cost me my career and has pulled me away from my family. I do not currently benefit from town health insurance, but I do get paid twice a month (a little over $400). For the amount of time spent, that works out to about $6 an hour. I did not choose to serve on council though for the money! That’s for sure. I know I can speak for all council members in that we want to make Chapel Hill a better place to live.

I agree that we should not fund council members’ health insurance after two terms. While this did not impact me personally, I regret the vote yet realize that this will be easy enough to change. The council needs to talk about this and abolish it.