Adopted by the Mayer & Borad of Aldermen, 10/7/98

Section 1       Group Health Insurance (amended 3/26/02)

The Town will make available to all regular full-time and permanent part-time employees and their dependents, medical insurance coverage. Spousal dependents that are eligible for primary medical coverage at their place of employment must elect coverage through their employer. Medical insurance on a cost shared basis will be made available at some future date to spousal dependent?s who have availability for coverage through their employer.  Medical coverage will be effective thirty (30) days following hire date.  For specific information on health insurance benefits, employees should consult the booklet ?Group Insurance Benefits? which has been provided to all employees.  Additional information may also be obtained from the Human Resource Manager. The Town reserves the right to change benefits at its discretion without prior notice to employees.

The Town will comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, (HIPPA) regarding pre-existing health conditions.  Consult the Personnel Department for more information.

Section 2           Health Insurance for Retirees (amended 12-13-05)

Employees who retire from employment with the Town under the Local Governmental Employees Retirement System or Law Enforcement Officers Retirement System shall receive health insurance coverage under the following conditions:

1) A retiree who has achieved ten (10) or more years of service with the Town of Waynesville and has reached 55 years of age shall receive health insurance coverage. Such coverage will be provided, at no expense to the retiree, until the retiree reaches age 65 or until employee becomes eligible for Medicare through disability retirement at an earlier age.

2) A retiree who has achieved at least 25 years of service with the Town of Waynesville, not including any accumulated sick or vacation time, will receive health insurance coverage for a period of ten years from their official retirement date, regardless of the age at which that employee retires. This will be at no expense to the retiree. At the conclusion of the ten (10) year period, the retiree will be allowed to pay the required insurance premium and maintain coverage in the Town?s health insurance program until age 65 or until employee becomes eligible for Medicare through disability at an earlier age.

3) A retiree who has achieved at least 30 years of service with the Town of Waynesville, not including accumulated sick or vacation time, regardless of the age at which that employee retires, will receive health insurance coverage from their official retirement date until the retiree reaches the age of 65 or until said employee becomes eligible for Medicare through  disability at an earlier age. Said health insurance will be provided at no expense to the retiree.

** For those employees hired on or after January 1, 2006, who meet the eligibility requirements for retirement, health insurance premiums will be shared by the Town and retiree as follows for a maximum of ten (10) years:

If an employee has:                              Town will pay:

25 years of service                                100% of the premium for the employee only
20 years of service                                  75% of the premium for the employee only
15 years of service                                  50% of the premium for the employee only
10 years of service                                  25% of the premium for the employee only 

Retirees may obtain coverage for eligible dependents from the Town by paying the full premiums for the dependents as established by the insurance carrier. Employees who retire under conditions set forth in Subsection 1, 2 or 3 above, may purchase coverage for their spouse, at their own expense, until the retiree?s coverage terminates, then spouse would be subject to medical coverage based on COBRA guidelines.

When the retiree and/or spouse reach the age of 65 and the Town?s regular health insurance coverage terminates, the retiree will have the option of purchasing medicare supplement insurance, if one is available through the Town?s insurance program. The retiree and/or spouse would be responsible for the full payment of the supplemental policy premium.
 
Section 3       Group Life Insurance

The Town shall provide fully paid life insurance for full-time, regular employees.  Dependent coverage is optional at the employee?s cost.

Retirees may purchase a portion of their active life insurance coverage through the Town?s insurance program.  Consult the Personnel Department for more information.

For specific information on life insurance benefits, employees should consult the booklet ?Group Benefits Program? which has been provided to all employees.  Additional information may also be obtained from the Human Resources Department.

Life insurance coverage will be effective thirty (30) days following hire date.

Section 4        Dental Insurance

The Town shall make available to all regular full-time and permanent part-time employees and their dependants dental insurance following thirty (30) days of continuous employment. Coverage for eligible employees is paid by the Town, dependent coverage is provided at the group rate.

Dental benefits are not available to retirees.

Section 5      Other Optional Group Insurance Plans

The Town may make other group insurance plans available to employees upon authorization of the Town Manager or Town Board of Aldermen.

Section 6       Retirement Plan

All regular, full-time and permanent part-time employees who work a minimum of 1,000 hours per year are required to enroll in the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees Retirement System.  The Town contributes to this tax sheltered plan in addition to the six percent payroll deduction from employees. The Town will pay the employer's portion and deduct the employee's portion from his pay check each pay period. The North Carolina Local Governmental Employees Retirement System is described in a booklet entitled ?Your Retirement Benefits; North Carolina Local Governmental Employees Retirement System? which is available to all Town employees from the Human Resources Department.

Section 7       Training and Educational Incentives

The Town recognizes the need to encourage its employees to acquire job-related training and to further their education through accredited programs and institutions.  Therefore, with the prior approval of the department head and authorization from the Town Manager, the Town will provide reimbursement for expenses incurred in completing job-related training sessions, seminars, or workshops which relate directly to the employees duties and responsibilities with the Town.  Reimbursement for expenses will include registration fees, books, meals, transportation costs, reimbursement for use of private vehicle at the prevailing IRS rate and lodging expenses, which must be documented by receipts.  Claims for reimbursement of expenses must be approved by the department head before submission to the finance officer for approval.  All claims for reimbursement are subject to budget appropriation and should receive approval in advance of taking the training.

Section 8       Workers Compensation

Employees are covered by the North Carolina Workers Compensation Act and are required to report all injuries arising out of and in the course of employment to their immediate supervisor at the time of the injury so that appropriate action can be taken at once.  

During the first seven (7) working days following a job-related injury, the Town will continue to pay the employee?s salary, provided the employee has accrued sick leave benefits.  On the eighth calendar day following the injury, the employee will become eligible to receive Worker's Compensation payments equal to two-thirds of his/her weekly earnings, but no more than the maximum weekly salary set by the North Carolina Industrial Commission, and will be removed from the Town payroll.

It may be necessary to terminate the employment of an employee who is determined medically to be unable to return to work because of his/her injury.  This determination shall be made following a formal evaluation of his case, including a medical examination at the Town?s expense performed by a physician of the Town?s choice.  If an employee does not return to work because of medical reasons he may be eligible to retire under the provisions of disability retirement.

If the employee becomes able to return to work, he may apply for any vacant Town position for which he is qualified and receive priority consideration over other qualified candidates.  He may be required to undergo a medical examination before returning to work.

Section 9       Unemployment Compensation

Employees who are laid off or dismissed from Town service may apply for unemployment compensation through the local office of the Employment Security Commission, which will determine eligibility for unemployment compensation.

Section 10      Law Enforcement Officers Separation Allowance: Supplemental Retirement Income Plan

The Town shall provide a special separation allowance to qualified officers who retire early or who leave service early and meet all of the following qualifications:

1) The officer must have completed 30 years or more of creditable service or have attained 55 years of age and have completed 5 or more years of creditable service;

2) The officer must not yet be age 62; and

3) The officer must have completed at least 5 years of continuous service as a law enforcement officer immediately before service retirement.

Payment of the separation allowance will cease if the officer 1) reaches age 62; 2) dies; or 3) is re-employed in any capacity by the State of North Carolina or any of its political sub-divisions.
All law enforcement officers automatically become members of the State Supplemental Retirement Income Plan on the date of hire.