Explanation
BACKGROUND:
In 2017, the City of Columbus negotiated Memorandum of Understanding #2017-02 between the Columbus Board of Health and the Ohio Council 8, AFSCME Local 2191; Memorandum of Understanding #2017-06 between the City and Ohio Council 8, AFSCME Local 1632; Section 18.1(E) of the 2020-2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the CWA to provide funding for the Ohio AFSCME Care Plan. This commitment was reapproved during the last round of negotiations. The AFSCME Care Plan provides a hearing aid benefit for AFSCME Local 2191, AFSCME Local 1632, and CWA employees. Per this agreement, payments are to be made annually in June and December. The payment is $3.00 per covered employee. The city assumes no other role in the Care Plan. To maintain this program, funding is necessary to insure continuation of services for February 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025.
Fiscal Impact: Funds are currently available and budgeted in the Employee Benefits Fund, medical subfund. This ordinance allows payments to be made in June, 2024 and December, 2024 per the negotiated agreement. This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2024 insurance appropriation ordinance, ordinance 2878-2023.
Emergency action is respectfully requested to allow payments to be made per the city’s contractual obligation and so financial transactions are posted in the City’s accounting system as soon as possible. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Human Resources to expend $27,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the Employee Benefits Fund for the Ohio AFSCME Care Plan for Hearing Aid Benefits for AFSCME and CWA employees; and to declare an emergency. ($27,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, funds for this expenditure for AFSCME and CWA employees are currently available and designated for this purpose in the Employee Benefits Trust Fund, medical subfund, and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is submitted as an emergency to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the city's accounting system as soon as possible in order to promote accurate accounting and financial management; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of Human Resources Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to expend funds to ensure continuity of service for the hearing aid program for qualified AFSCME and CWA city employees, thereby preserving the public peace, health, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the expenditure of $27,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the AFSCME Cares Plan for Hearing Aid Benefits for AFSCME and CWA employees is hereby authorized to be expended as follows:
Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550206 | Program: RM007 | Amount: $27,000.00 (Ohio AFSCME Care Plan)
SECTION 2. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage, if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.