THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 14, 1995 TAG: 9504140420
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANCIE LATOUR, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
In granting Sgt. Ed Lewis and his family an insurance package, the city went against its policy, which prohibits fired employees and workers under age 50 from receiving benefits.
City officials extended to Lewis unprecedented health benefits, worth about $65,000 over 18 years, that cover him, his daughter and his wife, Sandra R. Lewis.
In detailing the package that Vice Mayor Arthur L. Dwyer obtained for Lewis, city officials described a package that went beyond normal benefits for city employees.
The benefits program began in 1989. It covers retired city workers until age 65, when they become eligible for Medicare coverage. Employees must have at least 20 years of service to the city to be eligible.
Ed Lewis, a 24-year police department veteran, was 46 when he was fired for lying about a domestic dispute in December 1993.
Personnel Department Director Carolyn W. Darden said the plan does not cover employees who have been fired by the city, even if they have 20 years of service.
Darden also said that police officers must be at least 50 to qualify for the medical benefits.
Ed Lewis, now 47, has been receiving coverage from the city since March 1.
No one can quite remember how Sandra Lewis obtained the health benefits package from the same city officials who now condemn her as a vindictive liar.
Some council members said they agreed to it informally in a Feb. 14 executive session after City Manager James W. Rein recommended granting the insurance.
Some said Dwyer introduced it as a done deal that Rein would implement administratively.
Rein said he merely informed council members of their options, without recommending which action they should take.
Rein also said he warned council members that they were departing from the normal rules.
``They knew it was an exception to standard policy,'' Rein said in an interview. ``All I saw here was a guy who wants to help an employee. And we don't have a mechanism in place to do that.''
Others said they did not realize Dwyer's request was such an exception to city policy.
``It was presented to us as something that was appropriate and reasonable to do,'' Councilman John M. de Triquet said of the closed session.
De Triquet said no council members opposed or questioned Dwyer's request, including council members Robert T. Nance and Peter P. Duda Jr.
Both Nance and Duda looked into Lewis' case last fall and found no reason to grant him benefits.
When asked why he did not oppose Dwyer's request for benefits, Nance said he had no comment.
``I don't have to explain my actions to the press,'' Nance said. ``I will make my statements to the state police and in the courts.'' MEMO: Main story on page A1.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE CITY COUNCIL MISCONDUCT POLICY EMPLOYEE
BENEFITS by CNB