Despite claims of financial troubles, Newark wants to gift outgoing councilman lifetime health benefits

The Newark City Council wants to reward retiring City Councilman Carlos Gonzalez with lifetime health benefits in appreciation for his “long and faithful service,” at the same time the city is pushing to keep – and increase — its $110 million during the current budget deliberations.

A resolution prepared for tomorrow’s council meeting, called a “Fringe Benefit Arrangement,” notes that city employees with 25 consecutive years of service are granted lifetime health benefits.”

“The City of Newark desires to implement a one-time rule relaxation for Carlos M. Gonzalez for his career of service to the citizens of Newark as an elected official,” the resolution stated.

Gonzalez, 76, was first elected as an at-large councilman in 2006 and re-elected four times.  He did not seek re-election in last month’s nonpartisan municipal election.

He earned $95,000-a-year as a part-time councilman.

In Newark, all nine current city councilmembers qualify for city-paid health benefits because the city structure classifies their positions as full-time.  Still, many members of the city council have full-time jobs.

Under New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) laws enacted in 2010, local elected officials must work at least 35 hours per week to qualify for taxpayer-funded health coverage. But Gonzalez is the only current member who has served continuously since July 2006. Because he was seated before the May 2010 state reforms took effect, he is legally grandfathered in under the older, more lenient eligibility rules.