When Marc Schrieks ran for Lodi council, he pledged
not to take taxpayer funded health benefits for that part-time elected
position.
On April 19, 2010, Marc Schrieks and the council voted
unanimously to waive health benefits for the entire 2010 calendar year.
From that Resolution:
WHEREAS, it is the intention of this elected government body to grant
the taxpayers of this community with some form of financial relief.
Also from that Resolution: NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED by
the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Lodi that health and life insurance benefits,
to which they would, in the absence of the Resolution, be entitled, be and hereby are voluntarily waived from
January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
Logic will tell
you: IF in the absence of the
Resolution, the Mayor and Council would be entitled, THEN in the presence of
the Resolution, the Mayor and Council would NOT be entitled.
The State enacted a new law on May 21, 2010 prohibiting part-time elected officials from receiving
health benefits through SHBP. In order
to be grandfathered, one had to be enrolled or eligible on that date and have continuous
service thereafter.
Was Marc Schrieks enrolled by Lodi for SHBP health
benefits on May 21, 2010? NO. On
May 21, 2010 Marc Schrieks was receiving taxpayer funded health benefits from his
other political position at the Meadowlands Commission.
Was Marc Schrieks eligible for SHBP health benefits paid
for by Lodi taxpayers on May 21, 2010? NO. On
April 19, 2010, Marc Schrieks and the Council unanimously passed a Resolution waiving
health benefits for the entire 2010 calendar year. The resolution clearly made them NOT ENTITLED
for the time period covering May 21, 2010.
In
August 2013, the State informed me that Lodi taxpayers were paying for Marc
Schrieks’ health benefits since September 2010.
