Proposal from prospective Luzerne County insurance broker released

Dec. 9--While it wasn't his first pick, Luzerne County Manager C. David Pedri submitted some positive feedback about his second recommendation to select Pittston-based Joyce Insurance Group as county insurance broker.

A council majority rejected Pedri's initial recommendation to keep Bethlehem-based Brown & Brown of Lehigh Valley at its current $60,000 yearly fee as endorsed by an employee committee that reviewed all proposal submissions, with several council members expressing interest in a lower-priced, county-based option.

The Joyce proposal would save $10,000 on brokerage fees and reward a company headquartered in the county, although council members must determine if they are satisfied the company will perform at the same level as Brown & Brown, which has been praised for saving the county money and providing proactive risk management.

The broker seeks insurance providers and administers claims for county coverage.

Council is expected to vote on the Joyce contract Tuesday, after a public presentation by the company.

According to his agenda submission, Pedri said Joyce Insurance offers in-house loss control on property and casualty claims as well as a complete claims evaluation with plans to mitigate future claims.

"Joyce Insurance Group has a dedicated team for municipal entities. There will always be a point of contact available to address the county's insurance questions, needs, claims, and/or concerns," the submission said.

Posted under the council meeting section at www.luzernecounty.org, the agenda also includes a copy of the proposal submitted by Joyce Insurance to serve as broker for a flat $50,000 annually in 2020 and 2021, with an optional third-year renewal.

According to this document:

Joseph J. Joyce Jr., the company's vice president-commercial lines, said his company has been in business since 1955 and has three county locations in Pittston, Nanticoke and Hazleton.

"We have written many large accounts similar to the specifications listed in your bid. We also have 40 employees who live and pay taxes in Luzerne County," he wrote.

He would serve as the lead consultant and team leader for the county and has more than 30 years of agency ownership and insurance industry experience.

Within 60 days, the company would conduct an insurance audit of the operating exposures, current policy coverage terms, conditions, limits and deductibles and make recommendations to enhance coverage, eliminate coverage gaps, improve cash flow and reduce the cost of risk to the county.

This audit will include coverage analysis and the selection of appropriate property, equipment, builders' risk and business income values based on existing appraisals, income statements and other available documentation.

The proposal provides credentials of other Joyce Insurance representatives involved in the assignment and the work they would perform. It also lists three other governmental entities as client references -- Wilkes-Barre city, Lackawanna County and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

In response to the county's inquiry about the availability of staff, Joyce's proposal said the team the company assembled will ensure someone is always available, with personal cellphone numbers provided. The company already is providing the same services sought by the county for other Northeastern Pennsylvania counties, large municipalities and school districts, it said.

"We are confident that we can do this because we are providing these services for our clients now," the proposal said.

The proposal provides a certificate showing the company carries the county's required $5 million in professional errors and omissions liability insurance coverage through Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Prior county commissioners had decided in 2011 the county would not do business with Joseph J. Joyce Associates Inc. the following year due to questions about the company securing the necessary liability coverage.

Tuesday's council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.

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