BELLA VISTA — City Council members agreed Bella Vista should continue its contracted relationship with the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.

At its meeting Monday, the group decided to renew the $25,000 annual contract, which is already included in the 2013 city budget, for one more year. However, aldermen and Mayor Frank Anderson agreed the city needs to keep tabs on exactly what benefits it is receiving from the partnership. Alderman Jim Wozniak said as long as there is no other viable option in place for Bella Vista to have its own chamber, the city needs to remain part of the area’s joint chamber.

Aldermen did not agree on an expansion of the city employees’ wellness program, as presented by Anderson.

The expanded program would have been similar to the program the council began last year, which gave employees an incentive to participate by a $20 monthly allowance toward paying insurance premiums. That program offered employees with preliminary health screenings, then coaching throughout the year in an attempt to implement healthy lifestyles and ultimately lower health care costs. Anderson said the city had about 95 percent participation last year.

The new program, according to the resolution, would implement “cost/rewards for nonparticipation,” which Anderson referred to in the meeting as a “penalty” for not participating in the program. If an employee chooses not to participate, they could face an increased premium, as the city would pay a larger portion of costs for those who enrolled in the program.

The word “penalty” did not sit well with some council members. Alderman Allen King said he strongly opposed something that makes an employee pay more than they might currently be paying. Alderman Larry Wilson agreed.

Alderwoman Becky Morgan said she thinks it would be doing the city employees a disservice by not offering some sort of wellness program.

Anderson said it would be difficult to initiate a program for 2013 if the group waited until next month to vote, as the process of setting up the program takes two to three months. Council members voted unanimously to delay the program for the year.

The group voted to hold regularly scheduled monthly work sessions, to allow for discussion time for agenda items. The first regularly scheduled work session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.