Permit me to publicly express appreciation to Vince Dean. His calm, comprehensive and diplomatic arguments to the Chattanooga City Council against the administration’s ill-advised plan to segregate retirees and herd them unwillingly into a separate insurance plan unquestionably saved the day.
The proposed new plan, if implemented, was certain to cause months of chaos and confusion both for the retirees and for those unfortunate souls in the city benefits office struggling to sort things out. It was a totally unnecessary controversy and in the end, Dean stepped forward and moved the debate in a positive direction.
The administration also should heed Dean’s points - supported by his surprising reciting of chapter and verse of State Law - that future such considerations might better be handled in open meetings with representatives of those most affected by such proposed changes present and participating.
Ron Littlefield