Fresh off the heels of a closed-door session last week on Starkville’s new plus-one insurance policy, aldermen again will take up the matter during their 5:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting.
Tuesday’s agenda shows the matter listed at the end of board business, and the city’s e-packet, updated late Friday with the item, includes an affidavit explicitly for couples in domestic partnership – whether the partnership is comprised of a heterosexual couple that wishes not to marry or a same-sex couple whose formal marriage is not recognized by the state – to sign for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi health insurance coverage.
The document asks signatories to affirm six criteria: they are each other’s sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely; of the opposite or same sex and are not married to anyone else; at least 18 years of age and mentally competent; are not related so closely related by blood that would prevent legal marriage; reside together in the same residence, have done so continuously for the past year and intend to do so indefinitely; and are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and financial obligations.
Those who sign the document agree to notify the city within 30 days if there is a change in the domestic partnership’s status, including any information attested to that would revoke the signatories eligibility for employee or domestic partnership coverage.
Starkville’s plus-one policy survived a board challenge Tuesday after residents complained that rescinding the coverage would negatively impact city employees’ same-sex partners.
After almost an hour behind closed doors, Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver attempted to pull the specific provision, but his motion died at the table without a second.
As approved in the last city meeting, Starkville’s new policy added new coverage options for employees’ dependents. It created two new tiers in which workers could choose to add either an adult or their children for a reduced monthly rate compared to the city’s all-encompassing family plan.
Starkville drew statewide and national media attention when the Human Rights Campaign issued a press release applauding the insurance expansion’s impact to workers’ LGBT partners, but Mayor Parker Wiseman and city staff stressed that the new policy’s impact is not limited to one specific group of people.
A second Tuesday agenda item could touch on the city’s LGBT policies, as Bill Heard is scheduled for a public appearance on “the resolution supporting equality.”
City staff declined to comment on the specifics of his public appearance or whether he would talk about the new plus-one policy or the city’s inclusion of the LGBT community in its non-discrimination policy earlier this year.
Staff did say church-affiliated persons had approached the city in regard to the public appearance.
A call to Grace Presbyterian Church, which is led by William C. Heard, went unreturned Friday afternoon.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.