Commissioners Overturn Controversial Health Benefits Plan

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 GASTON COUNTY, NC — Gaston County Commissioners are changing course on a plan to give themselves extended health benefits.  It comes after several days of complaints and protests from residents.

Commissioners voted at a special meeting Tuesday to overturn the resolution they passed last week.  Under that plan, taxpayers would have paid for the Commissioners to have health insurance after leaving office after one four-year term.

“For one time, you have gone too far!” said Belmont resident Virginia Feimster.  “I feel like you’ve gone too far lots of times, but this time you’ve gone really too far!  You’ve really overstepped your bounds!”

Commission Chair Tracy Philbeck refused to answer questions from reporters after the meeting.  He’s also facing criticism over his plan to take a subsidy provided to county employees who adopt.  The Commission passed that subsidy in 2013.