Gym memberships and ‘boot camp? fitness programs for township employees’subsidized by taxpayer dollars’are good for the whole township.
That’s the word from Orion Township Supervisor Matthew Gibb, who on Monday asked for and received approval to draw from the township’s fund balance in order to help pay for a ‘wellness? plan.
‘This is a direct benefit to the public and to our bottom line,? Gibb said in a memo distributed to the board before the meeting. ‘The program we are building also serves to build teamwork, department pride and is just plain good for people.?
The township, which cited drastically shrinking revenues when laying off 20-percent of its staff and making other cuts to the 2010 budget, will enter into an agreement with Powerhouse Gym of Lake Orion.
After a look at township health insurance rates, workers compensation, and absenteeism, Gibb said the idea makes sense.
‘It dawned on me we’re not in the healthiest of workforces,? he said. ‘Not in the sense that we get sick a lot, but we’re not as fit as I think we could be. And I’ll put myself at the top of the list, since I topped out at 232 pounds before Easter dinner on Sunday.?
Any employee who enrolls and commits to the program for a period of 12 months receives a subsidy of 50 percent of monthly membership cost, the cost of any and all boot camps, and access to the membership and boot camp benefits for immediate family members’although the township will only subsidize employee costs.
And, while work outs would only take place before and after work, or at lunch time, employees could potentially earn points for participation to be used for time off work.
‘The idea would be to give those who want to excel comp time,? Gibb said. ‘But we have to bring that back to the board. We’ve got to conceptualize how that could work.?
Phillip Stublensky, owner of Powerhouse Gym, which opened in Orion Township about a year ago, said he’s been offering similar initiatives to other area businesses and organizations.
‘We’re excited about some of the developments we’ve put into these programs for our members and corporations, townships, those types of (groups),? he said. ‘We’ve developed a program that nurtures team work while improving fitness, agility and your ability to get around every day.?
In fact, he told the board at Monday’s meeting, Powerhouse recently concluded a program with about 30 executives from the Pepsi Bottling Group in Auburn Hills.
‘We had a total weight loss well over the 200-pound mark,? he said. ‘It sounds significant and it is. It builds teamwork, makes fitness fun and gets you outside the office meeting with coworkers.?
The board authorized transfer of $5,000 from the fund balance to general activities dues and misc. line item for the purpose of establishing a trial wellness program with a report due to the board in September.