[Derived from Art. II of Ch. I of the Charter and Ordinances, 1974]
[Amended 5-21-1993, effective 5-28-1993]
A. 
Coverage. The City will provide to each eligible employee, commencing on July 1, 1993, the least expensive or Base Plan (i.e., requires no or the least employee contribution), hospital and medical insurance plan made available under the then current collective bargaining agreement with its white-collar employees, except that for purposes of this provision, the Blue Cross coverage shall consist of the following:
[Amended 7-20-1993, effective 8-2-1993]
(1) 
Blue Cross Hospital, Medical/Surgical, Traditional 90-91 Plan with the following riders:
(a) 
Unlimited Major Medical Expense Rider (BCMM-7), without prescription drug benefit, with a $100/200 deductible. The City may self-fund above the $100/200 to a $500/1,000 deductible using a third-party administrator. In the event the City self funds above the $100/200 level, then no participant's expenses shall exceed the $100/200 level.
(b) 
Rider 8 (Dependents to Age 23).
(c) 
Rider 4 (Emergency Outpatient EKG), employees only.
(d) 
Rider 14 (Psychiatric Rider), employees only.
(e) 
Nine-dollar drug co-pay.
B. 
Alternate medical insurance coverage. The City will provide to each eligible employee at the time of the employee's initial enrollment the opportunity to enroll in any of the hospital and medical insurance plans provided under the then current collective bargaining agreement with its white collar employees.
C. 
Alternate medical insurance deduction. Should the monthly premium payment for coverage in the plan chosen by the employee exceed the monthly premium payment paid for the Base Plan, the difference in the premium payment between the plan selected by the employee and the Base Plan, as determined on January 1 of that year or such other annual date as may be established by the City, shall be deducted from the employee's paycheck, said deductions to commence August 1, 1993.
[Amended 6-8-1993, effective 6-21-1993]
D. 
Open enrollment. Subsequent to an employee's initial enrollment in a medical insurance plan, each employee eligible for medical insurance coverage shall be given an annual opportunity to replace his or her present plan with any of the medical insurance plans available under the then current collective bargaining agreement with the City's white-collar employees. Said opportunity shall be provided during the open enrollment period. The open enrollment period shall occur simultaneously with the City's open enrollment period for all City employees. This provision shall also apply to an employee receiving benefits pursuant to Subsection H.
E. 
Payment in lieu of medical insurance coverage.
[Amended 7-20-1993, effective 8-2-1993]
(1) 
Medical insurance.
(a) 
An employee entitled to family medical insurance coverage as provided above may elect to waive said coverage if the employee's spouse has family medical insurance coverage.
(b) 
An employee waiving coverage shall be required to show proof of the spouse's coverage to the Division of Labor Relations. An employee who desires to waive his or her medical insurance coverage shall notify the Division of Labor Relations, in writing, and such waiver of coverage shall be effective on the first day of the month following 30 days of receipt of such notification. Each employee waiving coverage will receive the sum of $250 quarterly, to be paid by separate check on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year.
(c) 
Should the spouse's coverage be terminated for any reason, the employee shall immediately notify the Division of Labor Relations in writing. Upon such notification, the employee's medical insurance coverage will be reinstated and the employee will be provided family medical insurance coverage without any lapse in coverage.
(d) 
An employee who has waived his or her medical insurance coverage and who desires to reinstate such medical insurance coverage shall notify the Division of Labor Relations in writing. Such coverage shall be reinstated on the first day of the month following 30 days of receipt of such notification by the Division of Labor Relations.
(e) 
The above provision shall also apply to an employee who, upon retirement, receives benefits pursuant to Subsection H.
(f) 
If an employee and his or her spouse are both employed by the City, then one employee shall accept the medical coverage program and the other shall receive a payment in lieu of medical insurance coverage.
(2) 
Waiver of insurance.
(a) 
An employee entitled to single medical insurance coverage as provided above may elect to waive such coverage if the employee is dependent under a family medical insurance policy and is provided with medical insurance coverage under said policy or if the employee has single medical insurance coverage by virtue of the employee's employment elsewhere.
(b) 
An employee waiving coverage shall be required to show proof of other coverage as a dependent or the coverage obtained as a result of alternative employment to the Division of Labor Relations. An employee who desires to waive such medical insurance coverage shall notify the Division of Labor Relations, in writing, and such waiver of coverage shall be effective on the first day of the month following 30 days after the date of receipt of such notification to the City. An employee waiving coverage shall have his or her written request placed in the employee's personnel file. The employee will receive the sum of $78 quarterly, to be paid by separate check on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year.
(c) 
Should either the coverage as a dependent or the coverage received as a result of alternate employment be terminated for any reason, the employee will immediately notify the City. Upon such notification, the City shall transfer the employee to the Base Plan medical insurance provided herein, and the employee will be provided full coverage without any preconditions or lapse in coverage.
(d) 
An employee who has waived his or her medical insurance coverage and who desires to be reinstated to the Base Plan medical insurance coverage as provided herein shall notify the Division of Labor Relations in writing. Such coverage shall be reinstated on the first day of the month following 30 days after the date of receipt of such notification by the City.
(e) 
The above provision shall also apply to an employee who, upon retirement, receives benefits pursuant to Subsection H.
F. 
Medical leave of absence without pay. Medical insurance shall be provided to an employee on a medical leave of absence without pay for the length of each leave (or extension thereof) or one consecutive twelve-month period, whichever is less. An employee on a medical leave shall receive medical benefits identical to those provided during the employee's employment. An employee returning to City service from a medical leave shall have his or her medical insurance reinstated on the first day of the month following the employee's return, provided that timely application is made to the Division of Labor Relations.
G. 
Maternity leave without pay. An employee on a maternity leave without pay shall be treated in the same manner as an employee on a medical leave of absence without pay.
H. 
Medical insurance upon retirement.
(1) 
Each eligible employee, commencing on July 1, 1993, upon retirement, shall be entitled to enroll during their retirement, in the least expensive or Base Plan (i.e., requires no or the least employee contribution), hospital and medical insurance plan made available under the then current collective bargaining agreement with the City's white-collar employees.
(2) 
Each eligible employee shall have the option to select any alternate medical insurance coverage with the corresponding alternate medical insurance deductions as provided in Subsections B, C and D, provided that any differential monthly IV payments shall be paid directly by the retiree to the City.
(3) 
An employee shall become eligible for this benefit, provided that all of the following conditions are met, at the time of retirement:
(a) 
The employee must retire from the City through the New York State Retirement System and begin receiving pension payments immediately following the employee's retirement from City service as well as continue receiving said pension payments.
(b) 
The employee must have had at least 10 years of service with the City.
Dental insurance for elected and appointed officers and employees shall be as defined herein:
A. 
Basic plan outline.
(1) 
The City will provide dental insurance to each eligible employee at no cost to the employee.
(2) 
The dental insurance plan to be provided shall be the Spectrum 2000 plan, and said plan shall be provided by Group Health, Inc. The Spectrum 2000 plan shall provide: preventive and diagnostic, full basic, 100% prosthetics schedule, orthodontia for dependent children to age 19 and dependent full-time student coverage to age 25.
(3) 
Each employee shall have the option to waive his or her dental insurance coverage. An employee waiving said coverage shall receive the sum of $15 for each month said coverage is waived. Payment shall be made in one lump sum on or before December 1 of each year.
B. 
Medical leave of absence without pay. Dental insurance shall be provided to an employee on a medical leave of absence without pay for the length of each leave (or extension thereof) or one consecutive twelve-month period, whichever is less. An employee on a medical leave shall receive dental insurance benefits identical to those provided during the employee's employment. An employee returning to City service from a medical leave shall have his or her dental insurance reinstated on the first day of the month following the employee's return, provided that timely application is made to the Division of Labor Relations.
C. 
Maternity leave without pay. An employee on a maternity leave without pay shall be treated in the same manner as an employee on a medical leave of absence without pay.
D. 
Payment in lieu of dental insurance coverage: both spouses employed by City. If an employee and his or her spouse are both employees of the City, one employee shall accept the dental insurance program and the other spouse shall receive a payment in lieu of dental insurance coverage.
Life insurance for elected and appointed officers and employees shall be as defined herein:
A. 
Basic plan outline. The City will provide the following group life insurance plan to each eligible employee at no cost to the employee:
(1) 
One year's salary upon the death of the insured reduced by 35% at age 65, with an additional fifteen-percent reduction at age 70.
(2) 
An additional one year's salary if the cause of death is accidental.
(3) 
A maximum payment of one year's salary for limb dismemberment according to the schedule of payments in the current policy providing this coverage.
(4) 
A payment of $2,000 upon the death of the current spouse.
(5) 
Payments for death of dependent child.
(a) 
The following payments upon the death of each dependent child:
[1] 
Five days to six months: $100.
[2] 
Six months to two years: $500.
[3] 
Two years to 19 years: $1,000.
[4] 
Nineteen years to 23 years: $1,000.
(b) 
The child must be totally dependent upon the insured and residing in the household of the insured.
B. 
Medical leave of absence without pay. Life insurance shall be provided to an employee on a medical leave of absence without pay for the length of each leave (or extension thereof) or one consecutive twelve-month period, whichever is less. An employee on a medical leave shall receive life insurance benefits identical to those provided during the employee's employment. An employee returning to City service from a medical leave shall have his or her life insurance reinstated on the first day of the month following the employee's return, provided that timely application is made to the Division of Labor Relations.
C. 
Maternity leave without pay. An employee on a maternity leave without pay shall be treated in the same manner as an employee on a medical leave of absence without pay.
Retirement benefits for elected and appointed officers and employees shall be as defined herein:
A. 
Basic plan outline.
(1) 
The City will provide to each employee the Career Retirement Plan set forth in § 75-i of the Retirement and Social Security Law (twenty-year plan with a one-fiftieth fraction thereafter). The City will also provide the guaranteed ordinary death benefit authorized by § 60-b of the Retirement and Social Security Law (three times annual earnings).
(2) 
If an employee's date of membership in the retirement system is on or after July 27, 1976, the employee shall contribute a portion of his or her salary for retirement benefits as required by the Retirement and Social Security Law.
B. 
Deferred compensation plan. The City shall implement a deferred compensation plan, and each employee shall be given the opportunity to participate in said plan. The rules and procedures governing participation in the deferred compensation plan shall be outlined at the time the plan is implemented.
The rules and procedures for elected and appointed officers and employees shall be as defined herein:
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CITY SERVICE
Full-time service rendered with the City in a position outlined in the salary ordinances, Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, Buffalo Sewer Authority, Board of Education or Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority. Service with any other employer shall not be considered "City service." Additionally, service with the City, Buffalo Sewer Authority, Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, Board of Education or Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority which is not rendered on a full-time basis shall not be considered "City service" for the purpose of determining eligibility for medical, dental and life insurance benefits.
ELECTED AND APPOINTED GROUP
Consists of those employees who are designated as exempt from bargaining status.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE
An employee who has served the length of City service required in order to receive the benefits outlined herein.
EMPLOYEE
A person who is serving in a position belonging to the elected and appointed group.
GROUP
The elected and appointed group.
B. 
Employee eligibility for benefits.
(1) 
An employee shall become eligible for medical, dental and life insurance benefits on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive calendar days of employment, provided that City service was not rendered by the employee immediately prior to the employee's appointment to a position in the group.
(2) 
An employee who rendered 30 or more consecutive calendar days of City service within one year prior to the employee's appointment to a position in the group shall be eligible for medical, dental and life insurance benefits on the first day of the month following the employee's appointment to a position represented by the group.
(3) 
An employee who rendered City service more than one year prior to the employee's appointment to a position in the group shall be eligible for medical, dental and life insurance benefits on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive calendar days of employment in a position represented by the group.
(4) 
Retirement system benefits shall be governed by the Retirement and Social Security Law.
C. 
Employee application for benefits.
(1) 
An employee desiring to receive the benefits outlined herein shall make application to the Division of Labor Relations at the time of the employee's appointment to a position represented by the group.
(2) 
If an employee does not make application for benefits at the time of his or her appointment and the employee has served his or her eligibility period, medical, dental and life insurance benefits shall take effect on the first day of the month following receipt of the employee's application, and these benefits shall not be retroactively applied. Retirement benefits shall be provided in accordance with the Retirement and Social Security Law.
D. 
Employee/retiree notification. Each employee shall notify the City of any change in marital and/ or dependent status within 21 calendar days of the effective date of the change. Notification shall be made to the Division of Labor Relations. This provision shall also apply to any employee receiving benefits pursuant to § 35-33I.
E. 
Termination of employee/retiree benefits.
(1) 
An employee who separates from service shall have his or her medical, dental and life insurance benefits terminated on the last day of the month in which services were last rendered by the employee. Medical benefits received upon retirement pursuant to § 35-33I shall be terminated as of the day of the City retiree's death.
(2) 
Retirement benefits shall be governed by the Retirement and Social Security Law.
F. 
Application for medical insurance upon retirement. An employee desiring to receive benefits pursuant to § 35-33I shall make application to the Division of Labor Relations at the time of the employee's retirement from City service.
G. 
Type of medical insurance provided upon retirement.
(1) 
An employee provided with single medical insurance coverage at the time of his or her retirement shall receive single coverage for the duration of his or her lifetime, and said single coverage shall not subsequently be amended during the lifetime of the retiree.
(2) 
An employee requesting that family medical insurance coverage be provided for the duration of his or her lifetime shall, at the time of retirement, individually specify the name of the employee's dependent spouse as well as the name of each dependent child. The family coverage provided to the employee at the time of retirement will revert to single coverage when:
(a) 
Those dependent children, as specifically identified by the retiree at the time of application, are no longer eligible for the benefits of the medical insurance policy; and
(b) 
The dependent spouse, as specifically identified by the retiree at the time of application, is no longer the legally dependent spouse of the retiree.
(3) 
The retiree shall continue to receive single coverage for the remaining duration of his or her lifetime, and said coverage shall not subsequently be amended during the lifetime of the retiree.