IRVINGTON, NJ — Vicki Martignetti, wife of Irvington Fire Division Firefighter Carmine Martignetti, has a bone to pick with Mayor Tony Vauss and the Irvington administration regarding unpaid medical bills she says Irvington is contractually required to cover. Debt collectors have filed a $49,325 civil lawsuit against the Martignettis for nonpayment of medical bills, according to Vicki Martignetti.
“On June 15, 2015, a pain device was surgically implanted in my back. At the time of my surgery we were insured by MagnaCare, shortly after my surgery they changed our insurance to Meridian Health,” said Vicki Martignetti in an email on Thursday, Aug. 10, to the Irvington Herald. “The cost of my surgery was $49,325, all of which was supposed to be paid by the township of Irvington because they are self-insured. Before my surgery the cost and procedure was cleared and OK’d by the insurance company. We pay biweekly for our insurance benefits, therefore the township is responsible to pay all insurance bills.”
But according to Vicki Martignetti, the township has not been living up to its health insurance responsibilities to municipal employees and their families and now she and her husband are being threatened with lawsuits.
“On Dec. 30, 2016, a summons and complaint was served to us. The paperwork was given to the township of Irvington to take care of before the courts got involved,” Vicki Martignetti said in the email. “So at this time we were told it would be taken care of. Then on March 10, 2017, a judgement was entered against us in the amount of $49,325. Again paperwork was given to the township.
“On April 3, 2017, a Notice of Application for Wage Execution was issued. Again all paperwork was given to township as per the Fire Department rules and regulations. It is clearly stated in the Fire Department contract that all medical bills for all bargaining members shall be paid within 75 days of submission. Ultimately the township is responsible and is in breach of contract.”
According to Vicki Martignetti, she contacted Musa Malik, the township business administrator and personnel manager, “numerous times” but “he still has done nothing to resolve this issue,” alleging that, “On April 25, 2017, (Malik) was supposed to set up the payment amount with the collection agency, (but) it is still not done.”
When she tried to go over Malik’s head to contact Vauss directly about the unpaid bills, she never got through to him, she said.
“I have called the township so many times to no avail. Every day I get harassing phone calls from the collection agency. So here I sit waiting for the Sheriff’s Department to come to serve us with the garnishment order, which by the way will add an additional $10,000 to the judgement all while they do nothing!”
Vauss could not be reached for a comment about the issue by press time this week. However, on Friday, Aug. 11, he said he would investigate their claims and move quickly to resolve it.
According to Municipal Council President David Lyons, the township is responsible for paying the Martignettis’ health and medical bills. One of the council’s duties is to appropriate municipal funds whenever necessary and “paying the bills” is one of those times.
Lyons also volunteered to personally help the Martignettis resolve the payment issues.
“All the bills should be paid. Anybody that had a bill that’s an employee of the town that has health insurance, their bill should be paid because it’s the township’s responsibility to pay,” said Lyons on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
“Any employee who’s covered by insurance, their bill should be paid.”
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