Thursday, August 22, 2013

Killington hears options on health coverage

By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | August 22,2013
Rutland Herald
 
KILLINGTON — With more freedom comes greater responsibility for municipal employees under the upcoming new health care system.

Like many Vermont towns, Killington is facing change in the way its employees receive health insurance. Under the new system — also known as the exchange, or Vermont Health Connect — employees will have a greater say next year in choosing their health insurance, but greater responsibility in choosing their provider and other details.

Tuesday night, town officials heard from an expert on the subject.

The Select Board listened to a presentation from David Sichel, deputy director of risk management services for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. He discussed the changes faced by small employers — such as Killington, and most towns in the state — during the next four months.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known to both proponents and opponents as Obamacare. Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, the law goes into effect Jan. 1, requiring action on the part of both employers and employees, mostly surrounding how they purchase health insurance.

The town of Killington currently insures 10 municipal employees and two employees of the Green Mountain National Golf Course. An additional four employees opt out of the town’s insurance plan, which is provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield, with a $2,500 deductible for individuals and a $5,000 deductible for families.

It is unclear exactly how much the town spends for health insurance. For 2013, the town budgeted $187,008 for insurance, but that figure also includes vision and dental. Town Manager Seth Webb said the majority of the health insurance expense is employer premiums to Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The town currently decides which provider to use and how much it will contribute per employee. Under the new system, the town must decide how much money to contribute, but has the option of designating a provider or leaving that choice up to the employee.

If the town offers employees the option to choose a provider, it will be up to the employee make that choice using Vermont Health Connect, the clearinghouse for insurance providers and — for Killington and other employers with less than 50 workers — what Sichel called “the only game in town.”

Select Board Chairman Chris Bianchi asked about the advantage of designating a provider. Sichel said he could not think of one, but providers would be happy to make a compelling argument for why they should be chosen.

Assuming an employer leaves the choice of provider up to the employee, it will be up to the employee to use Vermont Health Connect to shop for a provider. Sichel compared Vermont Health Connect to the travel website Orbitz, in which a customer can go online, compare prices and services, and make a purchase.

“From the state’s perspective, they want to separate health insurance from employment,” Sichel said.

Vermont Health Connect is scheduled to be up and running Oct. 1 and both employers and employees have until Dec. 15 to register with the exchange and choose a provider, with insurance benefits beginning Jan. 1.

josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
 
Comment: That's about $15,000 per employee the town pays currently. All indications are that number will rise. Along with proposed budget increases for road maintenance (2 million in expenditures over the next two years), schoolhouse renovation, diminished golf course revenues (and looming capital expenditures such as renewal of the irrigation system anywhere form 1-2 million), proposed new firehouse and the fact we may not have the "undesignated funds" to disburse as we did last year for things like the golf course sinking fund, some say we are going to be looking at a 10 cent or more property tax increase on the municipal side.
Vito

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Killington eyes kayak access to river


By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | August 10,2013
Rutland Herald
 
KILLINGTON — A proposal by the town could offer improved access to a stretch of the Ottauquechee River dubbed “Killington’s Little Amazon.”

During a recent meeting, the Select Board unanimously voted to support a plan for the town to receive two parcels of land from Killington Resort to create put-in anud take-out areas for kayakers who wish to paddle a scenic 2.5-mile stretch of river running parallel to Route 4.

“Compared to other kayak venues, it offers something very different, which is a narrow, winding river with wildlife views, as opposed to just being on an open pond or an open lake,” said Select Board Chairman Chris Bianchi when comparing the river run to other local paddling spots, such as Kent Pond.

Fellow board member Patty McGrath, who owns the Inn at Long Trail, also supported the addition of a summer outdoor activity.

“As a lodge owner, it will be good to be able to say there is a kayak trail,” McGrath said. “It’s a good way to promote the area, plus to say we have other things to do.”

The plan, a collaboration between the town’s Trails Committee and Killington Resort, would include constructing a boat launch and a small parking area on Rabeck Mountain Road, as well as a take-out area on Mission Farm Road.

When taking out, kayakers would park their vehicles in the Skyeship parking lot on Route 4 and carry their boats along a gravel path from Mission Farm Road.

Killington Resort owns both parcels of land where the put-in and take-out areas would be located. Town Manager Seth Webb said the town had discussed the possibility of Killington Resort giving the town an easement to use the property, with the resort expressing reservations because of insurance and potential liability.

Instead, Killington Resort is willing to deed the land to the town at a cost of $1. Removing the property from the tax rolls would result in a total loss of tax revenue of roughly $2,000, Webb said.

The plan also includes a trail along the kayak run, which takes anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours to paddle. The Pasta Pot restaurant has agreed to maintain the trail.

Mark Bragg, owner of Kayak King Kayak Rentals, which operates out of Base Camp Outfitters on Route 4, looked forward to increased access to the river.

“You can’t believe how close you are to Route 4 and you never even know it,” said Bragg. “It’s a beautiful run. You’re sheltered by trees from the road and all you see are mountains on both sides. It’s Killington’s Little Amazon.”

josh.ogorman

@rutlandherald.com