Albany City Commissioners rejected two employee health benefit plan proposals at a special called meeting Tuesday morning, deciding instead to table the measure until the city’s insurance broker provides more information.

Ward IV Commissioner Roger Marietta’s motion to accept a proposal that would require employees to pay $248,690 of some $3.1 million in additional insurance costs projected for their 2014 group health plan, with a stipulation that the city pay down some of the 34 percent cost increase projected for under-65 retirees, died for lack of a second. Ward II Commissioner Ivey Hines’ motion that the commission accept a proposal that would have employees who are covered under a base plan pay none of the additional cost — with Marietta’s “friendly amendment” that staff look into a more equitable percentage paid by the under-65 retirees — failed to get the required four votes, ending in a 3-3 tie.

Ward VI Commissioner Tommie Postell was not at the meeting.

“We can’t keep taking from our folks and giving them nothing back,” Hines said before offering his motion. “Those folks are working from diminishing returns.”

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