Connecticut Post

Bridgeport reverses on drug coverage
Prescription benefits to stay Fabrizi to find funds for cop, firefighter retirees

By BILL CUMMINGS
Wednesday, August 11, 2004-

BRIDGEPORT - The city is expected to reverse its controversial decision to end prescription drug coverage for more than 200 retired police officers and firefighters.

Mayor John M. Fabrizi, a Democrat, has scheduled a meeting of the City Council's Democratic caucus tonight in his office. Sources said he will inform council members the benefit will be reinstated.

The reversal comes as retired police and firefighters make plans to raise money to sue the city to reinstate the benefit. A fund-raiser is scheduled later this month.

The Democratic caucus consists of 19 of the 20 City Council members. The council has only one Republican, Thomas Freer of the 130th District.

Fabrizi confirmed that he will tell council members city administrators now believe they erred in stripping retirees of the coverage, and will seek advice and support for finding $360,000 to pay for the coverage for the fiscal year.

"My recommendation to the council, after receiving additional information and further research, is it's best to reinstate these benefits," Fabrizi said.

"My interpretation is it's a contractual obligation. Some may call it a mistake or a misinterpretation. I can see how it could be called all of the above," Fabrizi said.

Based on conversations with council members, the mayor said he believes the council will support his decision.

The two leaders of the fire and police unions are invited to the caucus, Fabrizi said. He said he has also called Freer to update the Republican.

The city suddenly announced last week, through a letter to retirees, that drug coverage would end for police and firemen who retired after June 30, 1997.

The decision would have affected about 220 former uniformed-services employees and was to take effect in October. Police and fire employees who retired earlier than 1997 were not affected by the policy change.

A firestorm erupted among firefighters and police, who said the policy was unfair and that they had been promised

and were receiving

drug coverage.

Robert Whitbread, president of the firefighters' union, said he received "tons"' of calls from irate retirees.

"We think they are totally wrong. It says in the contract that they get the benefit and now they want to play games. We are upset,"' he said after the new policy was announced.

David Boston, a retired deputy police chief and former head of the police union, said he's organizing a meeting of retirees to raise money to sue the city over the cut.

Boston said he's heard about the scheduled caucus, and is aware of rumors that Fabrizi was about to reverse course. Still, he said, fire and police retirees will continue planning for a lawsuit until coverage is restored.

"If that's what they do, that's fine and there will be no reason to take action. We are upset about this. There is no question that we are entitled to the benefits," Boston said.

He said the union contract covering the former employees lists a few exemptions for retirees, like the loss of vision and dental coverage. But, he stressed, prescription drug coverage is not among those exclusions.

Boston scheduled the fund-raiser for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 in Germania Schwaben Hall on Horace Street. Retirees are being asked to contribute $100 each to begin the suit.

"If this just a misunderstanding, the city must identify it and correct it. A lot of people are upset and worried and concerned," Boston said.

Sources said city officials believe the contract language can be interpreted as giving them the right to cancel the benefit. But those sources acknowledged the opposite argument can also be made, based on the same language.

As a result, officials opted to restore the benefit, partly out of fear they would lose in court, sources said. The city is expected to raise the issue of retirement benefits during future contract talks.

Bill Cummings, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6230.