By Andrew Firestone

Tonight, July 27, at 6:00 p.m. begins the public forum of the city’s efforts to join the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), and thus save a possible $9.3 million. The meeting will be held as part of the Somerville Board of Aldermen Finance Committee in the Aldermanic Chambers of City Hall, and all are invited to attend.

The Finance Committee went over the ins-and-outs of the possible joining at a meeting on July 21, where a few of them raised concerns over the quality of hospitals opened to the those on the plan. President Rebekah Gewirtz of Ward 6 was especially passionate regarding the best care for those who have serious illness or injury.

The meeting will be the public’s chance to voice their concerns or questions to the aldermen. It is also near to the last day that the city can have a public meeting on the matter. If they wish to join within fiscal year 2012, they must announce their intention to do so by September 1, and that would need to be after a 30-day public comment period following the meeting.

Mayor Curtatone has been supportive of the possible amendment since day one, due to the incredibly high cost of healthcare and its proceeding havoc upon the city budget. Curtatone hopes that a major roadblock to financial clarity will result from the public employees of the city joining GIC and says he will join it as soon as he is able to.

Criticism from public employees comes from the bill stripping public unions of the their right to collectively bargain and replacing it with a board of three representatives if there is a dispute between employees and the city. GIC also does not allow any plans from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield.