Lakeville town officials weigh removal of part-time official’s healthcare, table for further discussion

LAKEVILLE — Lakeville Town Officials recently tabled a vote to halt health insurance benefits for part-time elected officials, a contentious topic voters recommended action on during Fall Town Meeting.

Officials said during a recent Select Board meeting they need more time to review the decision with legal counsel to address wider implications, and to ensure the cuts to benefits won’t be overturned by future select boards.

Since the board doesn’t have the power to remove benefits during officials’ terms, they discussed a vote to remove benefits for newly elected officials.

Select Board Chair Maureen Candito said the board will postpone their decision until they receive legal counsel, or until they find out if it's necessary — since another citizen’s petition may come forward from the original petition’s writer, Lakeville resident Michael Smith, that could put the issue in the state legislature’s hands to make a decision.

“We’ll see if a citizen’s petition comes with us, and see which way is the best way to proceed,” Candito said at the Jan. 6 meeting. “If we have something definitive from the state legislature that is as good as the people’s desire — so be it.”

The Tuesday night meeting was the first time the board has publicly discussed removing healthcare benefits for part-time town officials since the Fall Town Meeting, where voters recommended removing the benefits to save the town money.

Michael Smith, who wrote the citizen’s petition voted on by Fall Town Meeting, said insurance costs need to be cut as the town enters a lean budget for fiscal year 2027.

This year, the town has budgeted about $110,000 to cover healthcare expenses for the three boards with part-time elected officials: the Board of Health, the Board of Assessors and the Select Board. 

“I don’t have a problem with people getting insurance now to finish it at the end of their term. I think that’s fair, but in the next two years I don’t think it's necessary to continue to pay out any insurance,” Smith said.

He added that he wishes to create a second petition to the state legislature to permanently remove the benefits.

At Fall Town Meeting, the healthcare question appeared on the ballot as a non-binding article — meaning voters’ decision would advise the Select Board to take action to drop or uphold the healthcare benefits. 

Town counsel determined the board has the power to decide to keep or cut the benefits. Town counsel also determined taking away insurance benefits during the term of officials would need to be done by a Special Act of the Legislature — a law dealing with unique issues not covered by general laws.

The board can decide to phase out eligibility at the end of part-time elected officials’ terms or decide to remove benefits for newly elected officials without needing a legislature action.

Candito said if the board does phase out benefits — which members were in favor of for only newly elected officials and at the end of current officials' terms —  it must work further with town counsel before a decision can be made, since it impacts all town employees as well as retirement insurance.

 “If we’re trying to serve the will of the people properly, it might take some extra steps to get there,” Candito said.

All members said they want to meet the demands of Fall Town Meeting, but held off on voting because too many variables are currently unknown. In addition, members worried their decision could be overturned by new Select Board members after April elections.

“Whatever one Select Board takes off, another one can put on,” Candito said.

Select Board Member Chistopher Plonka said the board is still uncertain of the legal implications and what a new board might decide in the future.

“If we’re not even sure if we can do it. I don’t think it’s logical to have a vote on something that may fall apart,” Plonka said. “Obviously we respect the rule of voters, but at the same time we should do this the right way.”

Even with all the unanswered variables, Candito said she wanted to discuss the matter at a public meeting to show voters the Select Board is moving the process forward.

Board members did not say when they will publicly discuss the topic next.