Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Council To Vote On Costlier Police Liability Insurance

Mayor George Brown placed a resolution on his agenda for the city council meeting Tuesday that would authorize him to obtain law enforcement liability insurance from Richmond National Insurance Company at a cost of $241,114 for the period of May 4 through Aug. 14, 2023, an average of about $15,670 per month.

That's about a 2.6% increase over the approximately $15,279 per month the city has been paying for coverage with Berkley Assurance Company.

The resolution notes that Berkley opted not to renew the policy as of May 4 because it is "exiting the marketplace as a carrier of law enforcement liability" insurance.

The city issued a request for proposals for coverage and received only the one from Richmond.

The city saw its law enforcement liability insurance skyrocket last year from $63,714 (about $5,310 monthly) to $183,347. And that was after doubling the deductible for each claim under that policy from $25,000 to $50,000.

Bill Joyce, an associate with the insurance brokerage firm Joyce Insurance Group, had said the total increase in premiums for all of the city's policies — from $517,468 to $691,000 — was due mostly to a high loss ratio, with the insurer paying out about $2 on claims for every $1 in insurance premiums from the city.

Also on the council meeting agenda are resolutions authorizing:

* Wilkes University's purchase of a small amount of city-owned land near Livingston Lane.

* The temporary suspension of the ordinance prohibiting open consumption of alcoholic beverages on Public Square to permit wine tasting at the Fine Arts Fiesta next month.

* The purchase of a new undercover police vehicle for $42,621 through the state's COSTARS cooperative purchasing program.

* Opening a new account at PNC Bank for federal disaster funding related to Hurricane Ida.

* A contract with Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC to perform the city's audits for 2021 and 2022.

* The appointment of Dr. Raymond Joseph and the reappointments of Donna Reilly and Margaret Lovecchio to the city health board.

Contact the writer:

[email protected] 570-821-2110, @MocarskyCV

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