Aug. 14--WILKES-BARRE -- The last-minute addition of an insurance package renewal to Tuesday night's work session agenda caught some city council members off guard.

The delay by a month put pressure on council to approve the package Thursday, the date of its next regularly scheduled public meeting and when the coverage would go into effect.

"We've never done it this late," Billy Joyce of the Joyce Insurance Group in Pittston told council.

Usually it's ready a month in advance, Joyce explained. But more time was needed to gather information to prepare the package that increases premiums to $426,849 from $408,842.

Joyce said most of the $18,007 increase was due to the 10 new vehicles the city leased and a higher fiduciary liability premium "because the financials weren't as good as they were last year."

City Administrator Rick Gazenski told councilwoman Beth Gilbert other proposals were solicited.

"As of today we got no answers back," Gazenski said.

Joyce also sought other proposals for Professional Services, Property and Casualty and Professional Liability insurance policies. "This was the best we came in with," Joyce said.

Butch Frati, the city's Director of Operations, briefed council on the single stream recycling program. He recommended that it be continued, even though it's no longer a revenue source for the city. The way forward for the city might be a regional approach with other municipalities, he said.

In an off-the-agenda item, council discussed its concerns about gun violence and its safety.

Councilman Tony Brooks mentioned fatal shootings at a Monroe County township meeting a few years ago and at a Virginia Beach, Virginia, municipal building in May. He said that council members have been subjected to nasty comments online.

"The emotions that can happen in this room make me uneasy that we allow guns to be here," Brooks said. Guns are not allowed in courtrooms and not on the floors of the state Senate or House of Representatives, he added.

"And it just doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't seem right," Brooks said.

Council vice chairman Bill Barrett, a former city police chief, said he would reach out to the Pennsylvania Municipal League for assistance on how council might want to deal with the issue Brooks raised.

Barrett offered his opinion that the public should not be allowed to possess firearms in government buildings.

"It is time. It's well past time that there needs to be action taken on that. It's just common sense," Barrett said.

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.

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LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa” (Superior) of the main rated insurance subsidiaries of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (Zurich) (Switzerland). At the same time, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a+” (Excellent) of Zurich (a non-operating holding company). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Zurich’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, very favourable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management.

Zurich’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), at the strongest level. In the second half of 2026, Zurich is expected to complete the acquisition of Beazley plc (Beazley) for a consideration of circa USD 11 billion. Once completed, AM Best expects Zurich’s risk-adjusted capitalisation to be maintained at a robust level, in part due to the USD 5 billion of capital that was raised to fund the transaction partially, in addition to the group’s strong organic capital generation. AM Best’s assessment of Zurich’s risk-adjusted capitalisation benefits from the contribution of net economic value due to long-term business and equity credit for hybrid debt, which are considered weaker elements of the group’s capital structure. Zurich benefits from its excellent financial flexibility as a regular participant in the capital markets, evidenced by a history of successful debt instrument issues. The group’s consolidated adjusted financial leverage as at year-end 2025, was 19.6%, as measured by AM Best, with no credit given for contractual service margin. Interest coverage at year-end 2025 was strong.

Zurich’s strong operating performance is supported by a highly diversified earnings profile by line of business and geography. This was illustrated by a robust net combined ratio of 92.6% for 2025, as calculated by the group. Earnings have been supported by good growth across protection and savings products, evidenced by growth in the life present value of new business premiums of 15% in 2025. Results are enhanced by the consistent fee-based income derived from Zurich’s non-claims management services for Farmers Exchanges (a leading insurance group operating in the United States), of USD 2.0 billion in 2025.

Zurich is one of the world’s largest insurance groups with a complete product offering across life and non-life segments globally. The group maintains strong competitive positions in Europe and the United States, a strong presence in Latin America and selective positions in the Asia Pacific region. The anticipated acquisition of Beazley further enhances Zurich’s profile as a leading global commercial and specialty franchise.

The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa” (Superior) have been affirmed with stable outlooks, for the following subsidiaries of Zurich:

• The Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland
• Empire Fire and Marine Insurance Company
• Empire Indemnity Insurance Company
• Universal Underwriters Insurance Company
• American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Company
• Zurich American Insurance Company
• Rural Community Insurance Company
• American Zurich Insurance Company
• Universal Underwriters of Texas Insurance Company
• Steadfast Insurance Company
• Zurich American Insurance Company of Illinois
• Colonial American Casualty & Surety Company
• Zurich Insurance Company Limited
• Zurich American Life Insurance Company

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260904693636/en/

Ben Diaz-Clegg
Associate Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0293
[email protected]

Mahesh Mistry
Senior Director, Head of Analytics
+44 20 7397 0325
[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
[email protected]

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
[email protected]

Source: AM Best