The possibility of a $4 million-plus penalty for changing health care brokers got the attention of Upper Darby council members at Wednesday night’s meeting, with the top township administrator disputing key allegations raised and a later statement backing his comments.
Council member Meaghan Wagner revealed that Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge President Christopher Eiserman sent a letter to the administration concerned that the township is withdrawing from a trust that controls health care.
With the township in arbitration with the union over a police contract, Eiserman asked why the township has given notice to the Delaware County Public School Health Care Trust of its intention to withdraw from that trust effective the end of 2025.
Eiserman states in the letter, which the Daily Times has obtained, that leaving the trust will cost over $4 million in fees and the would terminate the current health and medical benefits for officers, retirees and their dependents.
Eiserman stated the unilateral action of changing brokers would violate the collective bargaining agreement. He stated that while the township has the ability to self-insure or change insurance carriers, it requires prior notice to the FOP.
Eiserman said the action impacts not only police but all township employees and asked among other questions, how much new insurance will cost.
Eiserman also raised the question of politics, asking if officials have investigated the proposed new broker, Connor Strong & Buckelew and its “power broker” owner New Jersey Democrat George Norcross.
In the letter, Eiserman states the action constitutes an unfair labor practice and he concludes by saying the FOP intends to initiate any and all necessary legal action to keep the township from terminating their existing health benefits.
Meaghan Wagner (COURTESY PHOTO)
Wagner asked if the township is tired of being sued. The township has been sued several times in recent years, mainly over procedures involved in enacting an earned income tax. A 1% EIT was enacted in September and is expected to hit in 2026.
“Do you like getting sued,” she asked. “I know Christopher Eiserman. I know people in the FOP. They don’t do this haphazardly … you’re going to get sued.”
Eiserman also included a letter dated Sept.12 from Trust President Melinda Tkacs addressed to township Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones, stating that the trust, which has been in existence for more than a decade, has consistently provided significant savings.
Delco FOP Lodge 27 President Christopher Eiserman in 2021. (DAILY TIMES)
In that letter, which was copied to Mayor Ed Brown and Council President Hafiz Tuniz, Tkacs said the township has saved approximately $43 million because of participation in the trust, including $6.5 million in premium holiday, in just the past three years.
She goes on to state if the township does withdraw based on current contribution rates, the township would have to pay the trust approximately $4.2 million.
Jones, who attended the meeting on Zoom since he was in Erie at the Pennsylvania Municipal League Summit conference along with Mayor Ed Brown and council’s Vice President Marion Minick and Secretary Michelle Billups, tried to clarify the letter.
Jones said the letter is a misrepresentation of what is happening and there is zero change for employees and there families.
Upper Darby Township Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones
“What we did is what every local government has a right to do: It’s to evaluate benefits brokers,” Jones said. “We didn’t change the health plan.”
He said changing brokers is changing the administration of the process. They want to evaluate benefit plan design, how carriers are selected and negotiated, support, compliance, costs, risk management and the program overall.
He said they had a team involved evaluating the brokers and it was determined a change was needed, but nothing in the health plans would change.
Jones said they have shared with the FOP, the firefighters union and others that they are not looking to change health care coverage, but are looking to improve the service of the brokerage and support services.
Jones said in a question from Wagner that as far as he knows there, will not be a $4 million cost and he had never heard of that, and they are evaluating the issue. He said they are speaking with the solicitor and will have a response to the letter as well as a report for council.
Township public information officer Rob Ellis quantified Upper Darby’s response on Thursday:
“The claim that the township is altering or changing its current benefits package, including those of the police and fire departments, is patently false.
“The benefits package for both … will remain unchanged. The only change being implemented is a transition to a new benefits broker that will be administering our programs.
“The township clearly understands that benefits changes must be negotiated and has communicated that understanding to both unions on multiple occasions. The choice of vendors to administer the benefits program is a management right that is not subject to negotiation.
“The township recently completed a request-for-proposals process that included review of proposals and presentations by multiple vendors, including the incumbent. Upon completion of the process and based on the requirements of our agreement with the current broker, we provided more than the 120-day notice called for in the agreement.
“Upper Darby Township remains committed to, and grateful for, the difficult and essential work our police and fire personnel perform each day. Our priority is always their safety and well-being, the most effective delivery of benefits administration, and the best possible cost to taxpayers.
“Finally, neither the Trust nor the broker has, to date, provided any basis or details related to the referenced potential $4-plus million.”
Council Member Laura Wentz, who was unaware of the letter on Wednesday night, said she was “horrified” by what she was hearing. It wasn’t clear Thursday whether she was aware of the above statement.
Originally Published: October 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM EDT