City officials want to hire Express Scripts directly to handle prescriptions rather than work with the same firm through an intermediary. The move could save taxpayers' dollars.
Late Friday afternoon, a one-page term sheet was dropped on Council members and they were asked to approve it Tuesday to allow drawing up an actual contract. With the three-day weekend, it came to the Council yesterday and received a lot of pushback because the schedule was so short, something Parking Commissioner Kevin Helfer admitted.
"The thing that bothers me is that it's just the one sheet," said Councilmember David Franczyk.
"It's the day after a holiday and it's a late file and if we don't approve this, we're going to lose money is what we are told. I don't dispute that. I don't dispute that it's a good thing. But, I would have preferred a copy of the contract or look at the comparisons, and say this is what we have now, this will stay the same."
After some debate, the Council changed the plan to require the actual contract to come back for final approval before it takes effect early next year.
Helfer says the contract would save the city $400,000 a month and that's why Express Scripts was picked over a series of other offers.
