City of Holyoke Health Benefit Trust Meeting September 8, 2025

City of Holyoke Health Benefit Meeting

September 8, 2025

Holyoke Fire Department Headquarters

The meeting was called to order by Quentin at 5:06 PM

In attendance: 

PEC Representatives: Joe O’Connor- Retirees, Chris Butler-Fire Dept, Chris Adams- UFCW

City Representatives: Tanya Wdowiak-City Auditor, Sean Mangano- HPS CFO, Dazhana Argueta-Personnel Specialist

Others: Quentin Donohue – chair, Steve Corbin – Dowd Insurance, Rebecca Sutter – Dowd, Rory Casey – Treasurer, Sharon Bittner-Willis, Auditor

Agenda:

Receive minutes from 7/21/25 meeting

• Quentin welcome motion to accept minutes

MOTION: Joseph O’Connor made a motion to receive minutes . Chris Butler seconded. Motion carried unanimously

Wellness Credits

• Kelly Curran emailed BCBS regarding the handling of Wellness Credits for other self funded cities
  • BCBS said no other municipalities’ trust is involved in making those decisions.  Kelly’s recommendation is for the trust to appoint a member (Dazhana is Kelly’s recommendation) to be on the Wellness committee/calls (Dazhana is already on these calls). The trust should not be the decision makers.
  • Quentin was fine having Dazhana on the calls

Broker Update

• Broker Report
  • 400k deficit but RX will offset that. Also reimbursements to LMD for high claims as in the amount of about 450k
  • Running in negative on dental about 100k
  • 3k about balance for dental fund in 7/1/24
  • Quentin Donohue was extremely frustrated/shocked and believes we have been lied to regarding the health of the dental trust.
  • Historically free cash is certified in November but it has been getting later and later. Free cash is frozen as it was not certified by 6/30 and will have to get approved for the following year to be freed up. 
  • SC- believes that the Trust is still in good shape. 
  • January 1st BCBS decided to change formulary to  not cover. COH is covering this year. SC will pull the GLP1 report to tell us if it is used for weight loss or diabetes.
  • 30/90 days of runout needed in Trust
• Post 65 Retirees to Medicare and Medex
  • Number of retirees on active plan. Could go to Medex if the trust paid the penalties or Part A cost.
  • SC will ask BCBS to run the numbers for ongoing cost and savings

• PCORI-Patient Center of Outcome Institute bill- Annual fee has to get paid. Becca took care of it

MOTION: Joe O’Connor made a motion to go into an executive session  . Chris Adams seconded. Motion did not proceed as this was on on the agenda

 Joe O’Connor requested that the Executive Session be added to the next meeting along with an account of billed and paid from Steve Corbin

Report from Treasurer on status of trust – to include all transfers, deposits, and current balance

• Sharon explained they have worked hard for several months to reconcile the Trust account. 82k deficit after recent payments.
• Sean Mangano recommended that HWW sends withholding weekly with their payroll. Tanya recommended that we send an email to accountants at HWW with process for payroll deductions
• Quentin requested that Tanya come up with a specific process to send to HWW
• SM- May 2024 withholding should be moved to trust if not already. Where are the June deductions?
• Auditors- it is a liability in the General Fund and can easily be moved. Trust not created until 2024 (prior to deductions being taken). 6/24 payments will be accounted for and moved. They will also notify the Trust
• The current process is to put the current month withholding toward the current bill. Steve Corbin recommended that it have the same structure as one month in advance. Sharon said she would have to make a few adjustments. 

Discussion on future selection process for broker

• Kelly Curran does not have an answer on this as of yet- TABLE FOR NEXT MEETING

Review MOU

• Send digital  MOU and push to November meeting

New Business

• Rory Casey-TASC is off the rails. Steve Corbin: not the preferred vendor. Rory Casey thinks we should look at other vendors
• Steve Corbin will  look at other FSA and HSA

QD welcomed motion to adjourn

MOTION: Dazhana Argueta made a motion to adjourn  . Tanya Wdowiak seconded. Motion carried unanimously

The meeting adjourned at 7 PM

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