(a) General Statement Concerning Benefits. To the extent available revenues and service delivery priorities permit, it is the City's objective to provide benefits to employees which are reasonably competitive with those offered by other local municipalities. The programs described in this section represent some of the benefits and services the City of Moundsville provides its employees in addition to the normal wages they earn in return for work performed. The information in this section is in summary form only. Employees seeking further information concerning their health insurance, life insurance, or pension benefits should refer to the Summary Plan Description or other source material for explanation of those benefits.
One program not included here which generally comes under the category of benefits is leave. The City's leave program is described in its entirety in Section 155.11.
(b) Insurance. The City will pay group term life and hospitalization premiums for all eligible employees and officers and their dependents as provided by the current contract in effect. The insurance provided shall be extended to each full-time employee of the City, after being employed ninety (90) calendar days. If an employee leaves the City, he or she can continue insurance coverage by converting to a private policy as provided in the insurance contract. The City will pay hospitalization and life insurance premiums up to and including the first due date after expiration of all sick leave for a maximum of six months.
(c) Group Life Insurance. The City of Moundsville Group Life Insurance Program shall be available for all permanent full-time employees. The City Manager shall be responsible for the general administration of the Group Life Insurance Program. The City Manager shall provide initial orientation regarding the system to new employees and shall, as a part of their employment processing, obtain completion of forms prescribed for enrollment in the system. The Director of Finance and the City Manager shall cooperate in periodically advising employees concerning the benefits and costs associated with the system. (Passed July 22, 2009)
(d) Health Insurance. The City of Moundsville Health Insurance Program is provided through membership with carrier(s) approved by the City Manager or through a self-insured program(s). The program(s) shall be optional for all Permanent Full-Time employees on the first day of the month following their hire date. Employees who fail to enroll at the time of employment, or who are no longer enrolled, will only be able to enroll during the City’s open enrollment periods or within thirty (30) calendar days of a qualifying event (defined as: marriage or divorce; death of spouse or dependent; birth or adoption of employee’s child; termination or commencement of spouse’s employment, either full-time or part-time, or spouse’s unpaid leave of absence). An eligible spouse and/or dependent(s) of an employee enrolled for coverage must be enrolled with the employee or may only be added during open enrollment or within thirty (30) calendar days of a qualifying event as defined above. WAE, seasonal, and permanent part-time employees working less than thirty (30) hours per week shall not be eligible to become members of the health insurance program. Health Insurance coverage shall terminate on an employee’s last date of employment. (Ord. 4-18-23)
(1) Contributions and coverages during periods of non-pay status. In order to maintain coverage under the Group Life Insurance and Group Health Insurance Programs, employees who are in, or who contemplate being in, extended non-pay status (i.e., leave without pay or suspension) for thirty (30) calendar days or more, shall be required to pay both the employee and employer contributions for such insurance. When an employee is on approved unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, he/she will be required to pay only the employee contribution for group health insurance but shall still be required to pay both the employee and employer contributions for group life insurance. Notification of continuation of coverage shall be provided in writing to the City Manager prior to the employee's leaving.
(2) Ability to opt out. Employees may opt out of the health insurance provided by the City so long as the employee provides proof that he or she is otherwise covered by other health insurance. When an employee so opts out, the City shall provide the sum of half the single premium rate per month to the employee so long as he or she does not participate in health coverage provided by the City. (Ord.9-7-10)
(e) Pension Plan.
(1) The pension plan shall be adopted and entered into by the City.
(2) The City Manager shall be the administrator of the pension plan as defined in the plan documents with all of the duties and authorities therein provided.
(3) The City Manager shall have the authority to sign all documents on behalf of the City in regard to such pension plan, and to make all decisions, discretionary or otherwise, required or permitted pursuant to or under the terms of the pension plan, and to do all other acts necessary or deemed advisable by him/her in regard to the operation of the pension plan.
(4) The Treasurer of the City shall be authorized to pay from appropriate City funds, amounts up to six percent (6%) of the gross wages of eligible employees participating in the pension plan and to further deduct six percent (6%) from the wages of the individual employees as their matching share.
(5) The Director of Finance or his/her designee shall counsel survivors regarding entitlements under applicable insurance and retirement programs, aid in obtaining proper claim forms and assist in completing and processing such forms, and counsel survivors in exploring possible benefits due them under Social Security, Veterans Administration, and Credit Union programs, as well as membership in fraternal or religions organizations.
(6) Participation in the City's non-civil service pension or retirement plan shall be offered only to full-time employees, as defined by the City's Employee Policy Regulations, and shall not be offered to part-time, temporary, or seasonal workers, nor persons hired on contracted or consulting bases. (Res.5/3/11)
(f) Service Awards And Honorary Recognition.
(1) Service awards. Employees of the City of Moundsville shall be formally recognized for service to the community. The City Manager shall ensure that presentation ceremonies appropriate to the award or honorary recognition are conducted on a timely basis. The City Manager shall develop and implement a length of service award program, and as a minimum, length of service awards shall be accompanied by a certificate of service to be prescribed and signed by the City Manager and the Mayor of the City of Moundsville.
(g) Payroll Deductions. In addition to the mandatory deductions of Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, Federal Insurance Contribution Act contributions (Social Security tax), life insurance premiums, and garnishments, employees shall at their option and as a service to them have certain deductions made from their pay and deposited with the appropriate source. These optional payroll deductions shall only be made upon written authorization from the employee to the City Treasurer. (Ord. 10-17-00)
(h) Uniforms and Clothing Allowance. The City shall provide members of the Police and Fire Department uniforms and equipment required in the performance of their official duties. The Chief of Police and the Fire Chief shall designate the type, color, and style of uniform which shall be worn by their respective departments and shall issue rules and procedures governing the initial issuance, maintenance, replacement, and accountability for such uniforms and equipment.
The City shall provide all other full-time employees with uniforms or clothing approved by the City Manager. The City Manager shall expend or allow a minimum of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) per employee per year for such clothing, and may issue rules and procedures governing the issuance, maintenance, replacement, and accountability for such uniforms and clothing. (Passed 7-1-08)
(i) Pool Passes. All full-time employee’s and retiree’s shall be granted annual pool passes for the City’s Four Season Pool facility. Spouses, children under the age of 18 living in the employee’s or retiree’s household shall be granted a pool pass at a 50% discount.
(Passed 6-19-18.)