Madison Council adopts citywide EAP and names retiring detective as in-house wellness coordinator

The Madison City Council on March 30 approved a two-part employee wellness program that pairs an outside employee assistance provider with a one-year, in-house wellness coordinator position for first responders. Human resources staff presented the plan and the council voted unanimously to adopt both measures.

Human resources director Megan told the council the outside component would be an agreement with Behavioral Health Systems to provide up to 10 counseling sessions per employee and dependent, plus related management education and case management services. HR estimated that component would cost about $10,000 a year for three years based on current estimates. "We would like to start this program in June," Megan said, if both items were approved.

The second part of the package would hire retiring Detective Stacy Thomas as an in-house wellness coordinator to provide first-responder wellness checks, counseling referrals, group therapy, "lunch and learn" sessions and critical-incident support. HR described a proposed one-year contract at $38,000, saying the Retirement Systems of Alabama and the state ethics commission provided preapproval for the arrangement and a required one-month break between retirement and rehire.

Public comment included both support and skepticism. Joanne Holman, a licensed professional counselor, urged the council to adopt the EAP, describing positive results from on-site employee assistance programs in the private sector and saying such services can reach employees who otherwise do not seek care. By contrast, Margie Daley (District 6) criticized the proposal as an additional taxpayer expense, raised confidentiality concerns and characterized parts of the city’s contracting and nonprofit relationships as lacking transparency.

A speaker identifying herself as Jennifer Coe asked detailed questions about scope and conflicts, asking whether the liaison would also provide mental-health benefits, how claims would be submitted and whether the $38,000 contract posed a conflict of interest given future contracting with a former employee. HR responded that the program’s scope covers all city employees while offering specialized in-house services for police, fire and dispatch, and that preapproval had been obtained from retirement and ethics authorities.

Council members discussed extending services to retirees in the future as the program is evaluated. The two resolutions (authorizing the Behavioral Health Systems agreement and the in-house coordinator contract) were moved, seconded and passed by voice vote; council records show the motions carried with all voting members recorded as "aye." The city indicated implementation steps will follow and staff will monitor expenditures and program activity before bringing any extension or modification back to council.

Actions: The council approved two related human-resources resolutions: one authorizing an EAP agreement with Behavioral Health Systems and one authorizing a one-year contract with Detective Stacy Thomas as an in-house wellness coordinator. Mover and seconder for the primary motion were noted in the record as Council member Spears (mover) and Council member Denzine (seconder). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).

Next steps: Staff said the program would begin implementation in June and that the city will track usage and costs to determine whether to extend or expand services.