Special Act Would Make McNamara Eligible For Health Insurance
POSTED: 6:55 am EST January 5, 2005
LANCASTER, Mass. — Voters in Lancaster once again will decide on whether to provide health insurance benefits to the widow of a call firefighter killed last year in the line of duty.
Voters narrowly defeated a Proposition 2 1/2 override request last fall that would have paid for a pension for the family of Martin McNamara. The firefighter left behind his wife and three young daughters. He was not covered by any type of accidental death policy.
A single-question ballot Feb. 7 will ask voters to accept a special act that would make Claire McNamara and her dependents eligible for health insurance through the town, as long as she remains unmarried. Voting yes on the question will not require a rise in taxes.
Mrs. McNamara, who lives in Clinton, Mass., would pay half of the insurance premiums, as retirees do. The town would pick up the rest.
