Most Council Members Decline Health Benefits

All but two of the members of the Brick Township Council will decline taxpayer-funded health care benefits as a result of their council position this year.

Council members Jim Fozman, Susan Lydecker and Bob Moore, all newly elected this year, said they would decline the health benefit package, which costs between approximately $9,900 and $25,800 per member, according to figures provided by the township.

Council members Joseph Sangiovanni and Domenick Brando also decline the benefits package. Councilman Dan Toth takes the benefits.

Council President John Ducey said at the Jan. 10 council meeting that he has decided to take the benefits because his wife was laid off from her job, and his family is now enrolled in a COBRA plan from her old employer.

"Since my family situation has changed, I have a son to think about … myself, I am taking the benefits and not taking the salary," Ducey said, referring to the $9,000 salary he would have received as council president.

The four newcomers to the council, all Democrats, answered questions in a before the November municipal election. Fozman, Lydecker and Moore all said they would not take the health benefits; Ducey cited a state law that bars council members in many towns from receiving benefits and said as a new councilman he would be ineligible to take them.

The law Ducey cited, however, applies only to municipalities that participate in the state's health insurance program. Brick's health insurance provider is Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

One Brick resident who attended the meeting said she took issue with council members receiving health benefits.

"Every municipality in this state is being affected and unfortunately, just as we hopefully are in our private lives, we have to be fiscally responsible and astute," said Roxanne Jones. "Really, if we can do without something, we should do without it. It's all about dollars and cents."