"The Task Force efforts on this are very much appreciated."

NO FIREFIGHTER SUPPORT

There could be one problem, however.

The plan was agreed to by four of the city's five unions: City Police, AFSCME, Municipal Lighting Department and the Public Library.

The Fire Department union has not agreed.

Calnon said he does not understand why.

"This will provide the absolute same coverage. The only inconvenience is that they will have to get new insurance cards."

Calnon said he was told that Fire Department union leaders will not agree to the change because they are in negotiations for a new contract.

Union Vice President Edmund Sanderson said the self-funding proposal is subject to negotiation under state law.

"Our contract with the city expired on Dec. 31, 2007, and we are engaged in negotiations with the city to arrive at a successor agreement," he said.

BARGAINING CHIP'

The city may go ahead with the change even though the Fire Department has not signed off on the deal.

"I suspect they will object and file an improper-practice claim if we do, but that would be totally unfair to the taxpayers," Calnon said.

"The taxpayers should not have to shoulder a $700,000 cost because someone wants a bargaining chip."

The mayor noted that the police and MLD unions agreed to the HMO change even though they, too, are in contract negotiations.