February 2015 | Meeting Minutes

St. Croix Government Retirees Inc. Meeting

Minutes of the St. Croix Government Retirees (SGR) Inc. held on February 17^th 2015 at the Charles Harwood Clinic. The meeting was chaired by Mary Moorhead and it began at 1.15 pm.

Attendance…Thirty-eight retirees and stakeholders attended the meeting.

Minutes…Abdul R. Ali read the minutes and following the reading, Dr. Yvonne Henry made a motion that the minutes be accepted with corrections. The motion was seconded by Mary Carley. The vote in favor of the minutes was unanimous.

Reports…(Cake Sale) Dr. Yvonne Henry said that $600.00 was raised at the cake sale. (Finances) Ms. Hodge, the treasurer, reported that the new bank balance was now $4779.65. (Bill # 31-0012), a bill to offset property taxes with retro payments had been watered down and was being looked into by Mary Moorhead, (SGR) president. (Bill Tracking) Miguel Nico offered an update on a number of bills before the 31^st. Legislature. He referenced Bill 31-0016 that calls for the Health Insurance Board to submit copies of their agreements to the Legislature and the Governor simultaneously.

Crucian Point Contract…Mary Moorhead provided a brief outline of the Crucian Point contract. The contract called for the placement of (SGR) minutes on the Website, the development of an “about us” page, site maintenance, an (SGR) calendar of events, an access point that would allow retirees to pay their dues on-line and an offer that called for three payments of $840.00 each. After some discussion re site maintenance and other matters Betty Wilson made a motion that the (SGR) accepts the proposal offered by Crucian Point by paying the first of the three payments requested. The motion was seconded by Phyllis Nehlsen. The majority of persons present voted in favor of the motion and there were three abstentions.

GESC Health Board… Questions were raised regarding the way the board chair Ivy Moses had responded to senators during a recently held Legislative Hearing. According to Eurman Fahie the board chair didn’t appear to understand the statutory healthcare requirements and how these affected retirees. Fahie then made motion that the (SGR) (1) writes a letter expressing a vote of no confidence in the board chair and (2) calls for her removal from the position of board chair. The motion was seconded by Antonio Steele. The majority of persons present voted in favor of the motion and there was one abstention.

Re-Apportionment Debate…The date for this event was set for March 31^st. (Transfer Day). This public debate would be held in the Great Hall at UVI and the likely speakers would be Atty. Ronald Russell, Mario Moorhead and John Abramson.

Any Other Business…(Medicare Office Manager) Diane Shillingford the new Medicare Office manager was introduced to the retirees by Ms. Beverly Joseph. Following the introduction Ms. Joseph was presented with a certificate by (SGR) Vice Chair, Debbie Christopher for her contributions to the retirees. (Up-coming Elections) Mary Moorhead said that these were overdue and that they would be discussed at the next meeting.

Adjournment…Phyllis Nehlsen made a motion that the meeting be adjourned and this was seconded by Gladys Rissing.