MADISON — The controversy over insurance payments made by the former police chief Mark Forsythe to retain health coverage through Madison Village continues, and officials are questioning his eligibility, along with who authorized the acceptance of partial payments.
The incident was brought to the attention of village officials after the village clerk received a payment from the former chief and questioned where the payment was to be applied. It then was learned the former chief was paying a group health-care premium.
Forsythe retired Dec. 27, 2007, as village police chief on medical disability, but was given Ohio continued health-insurance coverage for six months.
Mayor Robert F. Lee said he had no knowledge of the situation until recently. He said, “It’s the prerogative of the employer to offer this to the employee, at the employee’s expense, for a short period of time.”
Yet some officials are questioning whether Forsythe was even eligible for health insurance since he retired on medical disability.
“There are clearly some unusual circumstances surrounding former chief Forsythe and the continuation of his medical insurance,” Village Council President John R. Hamercheck said.
However, even if he were eligible, the monthly premium is due in full each month. Instead, officials found the village only received partial payments, which did not cover the monthly premium and the village inadvertently paid the balance.
Lee said the insurance premiums began at around $700 per month, then increased to just over $900. With only partial premiums being paid, Lee says there is an outstanding balance of about $3,700 for the six-month period.
It is not known who authorized the acceptance of partial payments, but Lee said the village will seek restitution from Forsythe through Village Solicitor Jim Hackenberg to recover the premiums, possibly with accrued interest.
Hamercheck said, “Currently, village officials are trying to understand the details behind how former chief Forsythe was allowed to continue his medical coverage and why taxpayer dollars were being used without council approval or knowledge.”
Lee said he is unsure of the process of a “fact-finding information gathering effort” and had many people and organizations to speak with, along with ascertaining a timeline to find out ultimately who is responsible. Lee indicated that interviews would include members of the current and former administration.
For now, the mayor does not feel an outside investigation is warranted.
“Right now, the village solicitor is looking into all aspects of this,” Lee said. “If Jim Hackenberg feels there is an outside investigation needed, then that’s what we’ll do.”
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