Insurance Agreement on Horizon?

A press conference has been slated at City Hall on Thursday with city and union officials on what is likely a mutual settlement of the insurance premium debacle.

The city's seven public unions claimed last year that they've been paying more than the 30 percent in contracted insurance premiums because the city was failing to fully fund the Medical Insurance Trust.

A report commissioned by incoming Mayor Richard Alcombright found that North Adams hasn't been putting in its 70 percent share for at least the last three years. The underfunding added up to more than $1.1 over two years; the city is expected to spend another $500,000 to fully fund the account this fiscal year.

Alcombright had vowed to work with the unions, particularly the teachers' union that has been the most vocal and did the most research on the issue, to come to an amicable settlement. Union officials have indicated they are aware of the city's current fiscal difficulty.

A advisory from the mayor's office states: "The press conference is for the purpose of a joint announcement by Mayor Alcombright and the Public Employee Committee with regard to a settlement of the issues surrounding the Medical Insurance Trust Fund."

iBerkshires will be covering the press conference at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the City Council Chambers.