Health-care tab is out of line

To the Editor: In a recent article, council member Ray Wootten accused council member Brian Murphy of playing politics, for pointing out that Wootten has decided to avail himself of free medical coverage at taxpayers’ expense. Wooten claimed that confidential information was leaked to embarrass him. My understanding is that a borough employee inadvertently released this information on a different matter, We, the taxpayers, get to pay for the health insurance of Wootten and Schwartz and, by the way, it is legal. However, instead of bringing the budget in at the recommended 2.5 percent, it was necessary to add one percent of $22,629.06 to cover the added expense of $35,000 for their coverage. Wootten’s annual pay for serving on the borough council is $2,500, plus the $17,500 for his free health care. I wonder how may taxpayers in Stanhope are getting free health care insurance. It is time for us to retire Mr. Wootten from the borough council. I think a fee of seven times his salary is completely out of line. Brendan C. Fahy Stanhope