City council to consider insurance coverage plan

Jan. 09--WILKES-BARRE -- The city managed to snag a better offer than last year on excess workers compensation insurance despite many new claim filings for on-the-job injuries, and older claims totaling millions of dollars.

City council on Thursday will consider approving a proposal for the insurance coverage put together by Joyce Insurance Group.

The proposal recommends retaining Safety National, the current carrier, who offered an annual premium of $90,476, which is $6,930 cheaper than the expiring premium.

The city is self-insured against workers compensation losses and covers claims up to $1 million for firefighters, $600,000 for police officers and $550,000 for all other employees per accident. The excess insurance covers up to $25 million in losses.

"This year we were pleased to see some evidence of the city's efforts to close out some old claims," Joyce noted in the proposal.

"However, there are many new claims over $50,000 and serious adverse developments within a number of the existing claims," the agency wrote, listing the following claim totals as examples:

--A 2017 total of $452,839 and a current total of $843,725 for an employee who suffered multiple injuries from lifting in September 2008.

--A 2017 total of $397,217 and a current total of $681,102 for an employee who suffered multiple injuries in a slip and fall in February 2010.

--A 2017 total of $464,962 and a current total of $709,636 for an employee who suffered shoulder strain from lifting in September 2012.

--A 2017 total of $320,814 and a current total of $635,791 for an employee who suffered lower back injury in April 2013.

--A 2017 total of $335,720 and a current total of $467,224 for an employee who suffered lower back injury in June 2013.

--A 2017 total of $443,837 and a current total of $529,166 for an employee who suffered shoulder strain in December 2013.

--A 2017 total of $391,707 and a current total of $594,099 for an employee who suffered knee strain in April 2014.

It was those losses and the new claims that deterred seven other insurance carriers from offering competitive quotes, Joyce said.

Council is also considering:

--Amending the 2018 Office of Community Development budget to include funding toward a ladder truck and a fire engine.

--Using $6,889.23 in a recreation fund established to hold revenue from Verizon for erecting a cell tower on land at Hollenback Golf Course to help offset the cost of netting at the course along Washington Street.

--Appointing Edward Pesotski, of Mill Street, to the General Municipality Authority, which oversees the Wilkes-Barre Golf Club in Bear Creek Twp.

--Appointing Dr. Susan Lynn Kaczorowski, of Jenkins Twp., to the Board of Health.

Normally, city residents are appointed to boards and authorities. But city Administrator Rick Gazenski said Kaczorowski has an office on Church Street in the city, and it's hard to find physicians who reside in the city and are willing to serve on the board.

Contact the writer:

smocarsky@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2110, @MocarskyCV

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