City of Columbus - File #: 0155-2008

• File #: 0155-2008
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 1/16/2008
• In control: Administration Committee
• On agenda: 2/25/2008
• Final action: 2/28/2008
• Title: To authorize and direct that the beneficiary of deceased employee, James Edward VanBlarcume, be granted the life insurance benefit as directed in the 1975 collective bargaining contract between the City of Columbus and AFSCME; to authorize the expenditure of $5,850.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund/Life Insurance: and to declare an emergency. ($5,850.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/28/2008	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
2/27/2008	1	MAYOR	Signed
2/25/2008	1	Columbus City Council	Taken from the Table	Pass
2/25/2008	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
2/25/2008	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
2/11/2008	1	Columbus City Council	Tabled to Certain Date	Pass
1/31/2008	1	Auditor Reviewer	Contingent
1/31/2008	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/31/2008	1	HR Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/31/2008	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
1/31/2008	1	HR Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
1/30/2008	1	HR Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/30/2008	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Disapproved
1/30/2008	1	HR Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/30/2008	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
1/30/2008	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/30/2008	1	HR Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/29/2008	1	HR DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/24/2008	1	HR Drafter	Sent for Approval

Explanation

Background: James Edward VanBlarcume was employed with the Engineering and Contruction Division, of the Public Service Department from 1969 until his disability retirement in 1975.  Under the 1975 agreement between the City of Columbus and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME) he qualified to receive an extension of Group Term Life Insurance Benefits in the event of total disability up to $5,850.00 under a Premium Waiver program.

Mrs. VanBlarcume beneficiary has come forward in seeking collection of Mr. VanBlarcume Life Insurance benefit. Midland Mutual Life Insurance Company, the life insurance administrator during the time of Mr. VanBlarcume's disability has ceased its operations. The merged company, Reassurance Life Insurance Company did not pick up the Premium Waivers and the old records can not be located.  However, the Auditor's office has confirmed that Mr. VanBlarcume's life insurance benefit has not been collected. Evidence has also established that Mr. VanBlarcume met the criteria as defined under the 1975 union contract.  Therefore, this legislation is to request that Mr. VanBlarcume's beneficiary be granted the $5,850.00 life insurance benefit outlined in the AFSCME contract effective in 1975.

Fiscal Impact:  The 1975 AFSCME contract language provided a payment of $5,850.00 for life insurance during the continuance of the disability.  Funding for this is available in the Employee Benefits Fund/Life Insurance.  To authorize the expenditure for life insurance benefit of $5,850.00 to the beneficiary of James Edward VanBlarcume.

To authorize the Human Resources Director to expend $5,850.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund/Life Insurance to pay the aforedescribed benefit; and to declare an emergency.  ($5,850)

Title

To authorize and direct that the beneficiary of deceased employee, James Edward VanBlarcume, be granted the life insurance benefit as directed in the 1975 collective bargaining contract between the City of Columbus and AFSCME; to authorize the expenditure of $5,850.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund/Life Insurance: and to declare an emergency. ($5,850.00)

Body

WHEREAS,  James Edward VanBlarcume, a disability retired employee of the City of Columbus was eligible for the life insurance benefits under the 1975 collective bargaining contract between the City of Columbus and AFSCME; and  

WHEREAS, the City of Columbus intends to grant James Edward VanBlarcume's beneficiary the life insurance benefit in the amount of $5,850.00; and

WHEREAS, City could not collect the disability benefit from the City's current life insurance administrator or from the life insurance administrator at the time of Mr. VanBlarcume's disability retirement; and

WHEREAS, the City of Columbus intends to pay the life insurance benefit from the Employee Benefits Fund/Life Insurance to the beneficiary of James Edward VanBlarcume, in the amount of $5,850.00; and

WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Human Resources in that it is immediately necessary to pay the life insurance benefit of $5,850.00 to the beneficiary of deceased employee, James Edward VanBlarcume,  thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:

SECTION 1. That the Human Resources Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to pay life insurance benefits in the amount of $5,850.00 to Mrs. Margaret VanBlarcume, the beneficiary of deceased employee, James Edward VanBlarcume

SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $5,850.00 be and is hereby authorized from the Department of Human Resources, Division No. 46-01, Employee Benefits Fund 502, OCA 461000, Object level three 3362.

SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.