SMETHPORT — Some changes to insurance came before the board of the McKean County commissioners on Tuesday morning.

On the agenda were items regarding health savings accounts and health reimbursement plans.

The commissioners passed a resolution that will allow cafeteria employees a health savings account. The amendment, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2021, provides a choice between cash and qualified benefits and to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a health savings account, and to permit eligible employees to pay for benefits with a combination of contributions.

According to Commissioner Tom Kreiner, “most of the items regarding health savings accounts and reimbursement accounts were mostly clarifications and updates to existing agreements. Some workers needed to update or make adjustments to their cafeteria plans.”

Cafeteria plans are benefit packages that give employees various options to choose from.

A health reimbursement plan (HRA) adoption agreement was amended and approved, effective Jan. 1. It provides for HRA funding for county-appointed and court-related employees in the amounts of $900 and $1,800, respectively, and for all other employees in the amounts of $750 and $1,500, for employee only and employee/family plan. The HRA will reimburse any health needs, according to Kreiner.

“The amounts are based on which union the employee is a member of,” Kreiner said. “There are two unions involved.”

The contracts, Kreiner said, did not need negotiation for these updates. “This area had not been updated since 2017, so this just puts everything in writing.”

Also at the meeting, the commissioners appointed Ron Keim to the planning commission for a four-year term, from May 17, 2022, to May 16, 2026.

An engagement letter was approved to retain Manning & Napier Advisors LLC to provide comprehensive institutional management services at no cost, as long as an investment account is maintained with MNA.

Bob Veilleux presented an update of broadband for McKean County as a priority for the CCAP.

Commissioners also approved Priority Dispatch Services for quality performance reviews for McKean County 911 at a cost of $8,856 for three months of service time.

Another measure passed by the commissioners was an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Co. and Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad, which is a condition of CRISI Program funding for railroad safety improvements.

The agreement entails compensation for use, adequacy of infrastructure capacity, railroad collective bargaining agreements and liability requirements as conditions of the funding.

In other business, the commissioners approved a slew of agreements through the Department of Human Services, Mental Health Intellectual Disabilities, Early Intervention and Foster Care contracts.

The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. May 10.