The Board of Aldermen approved a new policy on health insurance buyouts after a brief but spirited debate Monday.

The Board of Aldermen approved a new policy on health insurance buyouts after a brief but spirited debate Monday.

Mayor Christopher Louras presented the policy to the board, along with one on unpaid leave, for inclusion in the city's employee handbook.

It allows nonunion employees who have other health insurance options to opt out of the city plan and get half of the employer's contribution, saving the city the other half.

Louras said approval would codify what was already an unofficial practice. He also said buyouts had been offered at 10 percent, but nobody took them.

Alderman David Dress, who moved earlier in the meeting to sever the two changes into separate motions, said he would not support the buyout policy.

“I understand fully why it is done at the city and the school level,” he said. “That does not make it right. ... I have an absolute abhorrence for somebody being rewarded, through an insurance buyout, for effectively doing nothing.”

Alderwoman Sharon Davis disagreed with Dress' reading on the policy.

“I think we have to remember that this is a benefit due to the employee already,” she said. “If the buyout's not there, the employee's going to take the benefit.”

In response to a question from Alderman William Notte, Louras estimated that the buyouts have saved the city roughly $70,000 during the past five years.

Louras also pointed out that the change only applied to nonunion personnel, as the police, fire and public works union already had the same buyout clause in their contracts.

“Not having this would give nonunion people one more reason to look across the street and say, ‘They have a benefit I don't,'” he said.

The motion passed by a voice vote. The board went on to approve the unpaid leave policy unanimously with almost no discussion. That policy allows department heads to grant unpaid leave under certain circumstances.

gordon.dritschilo @rutlandherald.com