AUBURN - There's a new wardrobe accessory popular in city hall these days - pedometers.

Thanks to a new fitness initiative, more than 40 employees are donning the devices on their waist bands.

Six teams are competing to see how many people can reach their fitness goals of walking 10,000 steps daily.

A mile is estimated at 2,000 steps.

The Civil Service Employees Association is using a fitness competition through its insurance provider Excellus to promote physical activity and general wellness.

For six weeks, the employees aim to increase the amount of steps they take each day by parking farther away in parking lots, walking to close destinations rather than driving, and taking the stairs instead of escalators.

The pedometer shows the difference these small changes can make, said Lynda DeOrio, office systems training coordinator.

Together with Lois Calarco, water billing clerk, the women, who are members of the health benefits committee, pulled together a fitness program. They offered a cycling class to 10 people at the YMCA, will bring in a nutritionist to speak, and set up the opportunity to have their body compositions taken.

The employees started the plan in the end of April and will run until early June.

Previously, the health committee offered flu shots and an incentive program to maintain weight during the holidays. During that challenge, those participating city hall employees lost 65 pounds together.

Besides walking more, employees are encouraged to eat five fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Flyers and posters denote regular goals, such as taking a salad to lunch.

“A lot of people said they didn't really want to do it but it made them more aware of how much they don't move, like on the weekends,” DeOrio said. “You can't just park right next to Wegmans.”

Calarco hopes people will make the effort to promote wellness throughout the year.

“It's been getting a lot of enthusiasm - more than I thought,” she said.

The CSEA earmarked $5,000 for wellness education and programs in the union's latest contract, Calarco said.

Last winter, the city's payouts for employee insurance were increasing each month, but have since stabilized, Comptroller Lisa Green said. April's bill was the lowest city hall has seen this year, she added.

The city set aside about $4 million for insurance payments this year, Green said.

“This is for healthier employees to save taxpayers money,” DeOrio said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net