Taxpayers Shell Out $3K a Month for Murphy Health Insurance

by Cindy Goldstein -

Editor’s Note: This story is evolving and based on available facts at this time.  We will follow-up as new information is received.

After losing the November 7, 2023 election but before leaving office on December 4th, Mayor Tom Murphy hastily changed course and signed on to the Village’s fully taxpayer-subsidized health insurance. 

This benefit is available to all elected officials in the Village of Mamaroneck while in office.  Elected officials may also receive health insurance  after retirement if they meet all New York State retirement requirements and qualify for a NYS pension. 

Murphy, who served briefly as an appointed trustee in 2001, won trustee elections in 2004 and 2006 and elections for Mayor in 2017, 2019 and 2021 although not all of the full two-year terms were completed.  Apparently, even though these terms are classified as part-time work, Murphy qualified for a state pension.  According to See Through NY, Murphy, who is 64 years old, put in his NYS retirement paperwork and, as of January 1, 2025, was listed as “retired”.  See HERE.

Health Coverage Refused

Prior to losing the 2023 election, Murphy did not participate in Village subsidized health insurance and presumably obtained health insurance coverage elsewhere.  At the time of losing that election Murphy was still employed at his regular full-time job.  By refusing Village health coverage, Murphy was eligible for an $8,000 annual cash incentive in lieu of coverage.  He reportedly received these incentives including for 2023 with the exception of the month of December when he first enrolled in the Village’s health insurance.

Village health insurance is very desirable for elected officials as the practice has been that no contributions are required, and the Village pays 100% of the premiums while they serve on the Board. 

Conflicting Emails About Eligibility

On the afternoon of November 21, 2023, Human Resources Manager Danielle Gilliard wrote to Village Manager Jerome Barberio outlining her review of Murphy’s eligibility for health insurance.  She states, “Since I have been here, we have provided medical upon retirement (emphasis added) for those employees/board members that had already been enrolled in the medical previously…10 years or more.” 

In his reply about an hour later, Barberio outlines his rationale for Murphy to be covered citing his length of service as an elected official.  He also contradicts Gilliard’s statement about the gauge for eligibility.  Barberio stated the standard as years of employment – not years of medical insurance coverage as described by Gilliard.  See HERE. It should be noted that Murphy, at the time, did not retire from the NYS employment retirement system but was just leaving Village employment.

It is unclear if the Village has a written policy regarding benefits for elected officials.  In a conversation with The Mamaroneck Observer, Gill mentioned she could not readily find one.  Regardless, the practice described by Gilliard in her email was in place and it appears Barberio chose not to follow that practice.  By law, only the Board of Trustees may set policies for the Village.

Barberio Ordered Enrollment

Based on this email exchange, Barberio had Murphy enrolled in the health insurance plan which reportedly costs the Village approximately $3,300/month for a family plan.  See HERE. The document shows the date of enrollment as December 1, 2023 - just 3 days before he left office.

When Murphy was added to the Village’s health insurance the four trustees in office at the time were Lou Young, Leilani Yizar-Reid, Manny Rawlings and Nora Lucas.  Young, Yizar-Reid and Rawlings did not run for re-election in 2024.  Trustee Nora Lucas, still a member of the Board of Trustees, told The Mamaroneck Observer that at the time she had not been advised of Murphy’s status regarding health insurance nor was involved in any discussions regarding policy changes related to benefits for elected officials.

Gilliard worked at the Village of Mamaroneck for almost 7 years before leaving in March 2025.  After the November 2023 election, Barberio was put on administrative leave as of January 30, 2024 and retired from the Village soon thereafter.  See HERE.

Issue Discovered

This situation was recently brought to Village Manager Kathleen Gill’s attention when a local resident filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request looking for information. 

When speaking with The Mamaroneck Observer, Gill explained that the issue was not discovered previously due to the fact that the list of individuals using the Village’s health insurance is accessible by only one or two Village employees.  She has instituted a review of the list to determine eligibility and procedures for adding individuals in the future.

The Big Question

Other than the timing of Murphy’s odd last-minute enrollment in the plan, the question remains as to whether or not Murphy was eligible to be enrolled in the Village’s taxpayer subsidized health insurance plan prior to his official NYS retirement date (January 1, 2025).  If not, he might have been eligible for COBRA to continue his coverage but he would have been required to reimburse the Village for 100% of the premium cost – almost $40,000 annually.

Remedy Uncertain

It’s not clear what the Village can do if any premium payments for Murphy’s health insurance coverage are found to have been made in error.  Gill stated the Village was consulting an outside attorney for clarification.

At the writing of this article no other former elected officials who are receiving fully taxpayer subsidized health insurance have been identified.