Sarnia's mayor is pleased a report, proposing benefit reductions for employees eligible for early retirement, could be dealt with during closed door negotiations.
Mike Bradley says the city manager is recommending a follow-up report on post-retirement benefits be received and filed pending future collective bargaining.
He says public debate over the past two or three months has been counter-productive.
"The normal thing in any community is that you deal with these issues at the bargaining table, and council should be sending this to the bargaining table later this year," says Bradley. "There are no changes that would happen anyhow in the budget this year, and we will take our position forward and deal with it then. But, dealing with it in the council chambers is counter-productive."
The city currently provides health and dental benefits for employees up to age 65 with at least 25 years of service.
39 of the city's 250 unionized workers will be eligible for early retirement in 2016.
