Third council member opts out of health care benefits package

BRICK TOWNSHIP — Township Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni will give up his township health benefits in 2009.

Sangiovanni said he will use his healthcare benefits as the transportation director for the Brick school system instead.

He said he decided to give up his township health plan benefits in July, but had to wait until the open enrollment period in November to do so.

Sangiovanni is the third township council member to announce they were opting out of health care benefits at the end of the year.

Councilwoman Kathy Russell said in mid-November she would no longer take the benefits in 2009 and said she would give up her $8,000 council member salary as well, if other council members did so.

Council President Ruthanne Scaturro also announced last month that she was giving up her health care benefits.

Russell and Sangiovanni both have directaccess coverage for two adults at $15,134. Scaturro has a traditional plan for two adults at a cost of $17,875.

Sangiovanni said he was actually the first council member to consider giving up health care benefits.

"I wrote a letter back on Oct. 23 asking to withdraw from the township health benefits in 20009," he said. "Not for nothing, but I had mentioned this to Kathy before anyone else decided to get out of it."

Sangiovanni said he first decided to give up the township health benefits after his contract with the Board of Education was renewed on June 30.

"I wanted to make sure I still had a job before I gave up my benefits," he said.

It cost Brick taxpayers $129,307 to pay for the mayor and council members health benefits in 2008, according the township records obtained from the state Open Public Records Act.

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis and Councilmen Anthony Matthews and Michael Thulen have the most expensive packages — traditional family coverage plans at $20,757 apiece. Councilman Daniel Toth has a directaccess family plan, which costs $17,495.

Councilman Brian DeLuca is the only elected official who did not take an entire health benefits package this year. DeLuca opted for family vision and dental coverage at a cost of $1,398.