One thing council will immediately begin to look at is exploring new health insurance for its employees.

The city’s premium for the past fiscal year with Blue Cross and Blue Shield was more than $1 million, Human Resources Manager Kathy Kearney told council during its retreat today.

Finance Director MeLinda Hite said that figure is expected to be same at the end of this fiscal year.

Its premium in 2006 with a different provider was $440,000 with a 80-20 split. The current plan is a 70-30 split.

“We need to take a look at that,” Council member Greg Lawson said. “There has to be a competitive process.”

Said Kearney: “We need to look at it for our employees and taxpayers.”

City Manager Paul Sabiston said the city could see savings of a couple $100,000 a year by going elsewhere.

“We need to get rolling,” Lawson said.