A new memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Village of Brockport and Chief of Police Daniel Varrenti provides him with the village’s health care plan.
Village Board members unanimously approved the MOU during their regular meeting October 7.
Before the vote, Mayor Margaret Blackman made a statement. She said she believed the public is aware Chief Varrenti lost his health care coverage from his former employer, the Town of Irondequoit.
“Once his lawsuit with Irondequoit was settled, he approached the Village Board and asked if he could enroll in our employee health care plan,” Blackman said.
The MOA states that Chief Varrenti will not be provided with dental insurance, life insurance, or any short-term disability benefits.
Mayor Blackman said the MOA provides him with the village’s health care plan at the same payment schedule as other full time non-union employees – he will pay 20 percent of the premium.
Chief Varrenti’s salary remains the same, but the Mayor explained a change has been made in his contract which removes a major liability to the village regarding the Chief’s 211 waiver. A clause in the contract requiring the village to reimburse Varrenti the annual amount of pension funds (an amount close to $50,000) if the village refused to sign the 211 waiver application or if it was not offered or approved by the State, has been removed.
The 211 waiver allows someone retired and re-employed to draw their pension from the State. Before beginning his job as chief of police in Brockport in 2002, Varrenti had been police chief in Irondequoit and had retired from that position.
“I would add that while his health care comes at a cost to the village, by not having to provide his health care the past 11 years, the village has saved more than it will expend over the term of his continuing contract,” Blackman said.
11/3/13
