The procurement, management and control of all insurance and bonding
requirements, other than employee benefits, and unless otherwise provided
for by law, for the Town of Rocky Hill shall be vested in an Insurance Committee
consisting of three electors of the Town who shall be appointed by the Town
Council, but not more than two of said electors shall be members of the same
political party.
The term of office of the members of the Insurance Committee shall be
for three years, from January 2 of the year of appointment. With the adoption
of this chapter, one member shall be appointed for a term ending January 1,
1987; another member shall be appointed for a term ending January 1, 1988;
and the third member for a term ending January 1, 1989. Each succeeding appointment
shall be made for terms of three years. In the event that a vacancy occurs
before the expiration of the term, the Town Council shall fill such vacancy
for the unexpired term with a member of the same party.
Any appointed official or employee of the Town of Rocky Hill who receives
compensation for the performance of the duties of such office, or any elected
official, shall be ineligible for appointment on such Insurance Committee.
The Committee members shall be appointed based upon their knowledge and experience
in the field of property and casualty insurance.
The Insurance Committee shall not enter into any contract or agreement
wherein the Town of Rocky Hill shall assume any contingent liability.
The Insurance Committee shall have the following duties:
A. The placement, amendment, renewal and cancellation of
coverage on all insurable Town risks which, in the Committee's opinion, are
required in order to protect the Town adequately against loss or damage.
B. The maintenance of adequate records for all of the Town's
insurance.
C. The approving for payment of all insurance premiums.
D. The proper filing and prompt processing of all insurance
claims for, against or in behalf of the Town.
E. The analyzing periodically, and at least annually, of
the insurance needs of the Town to determine whether adequate, proper and
up-to-date coverage is being provided.
F. The preparation of an annual budget request in consultation
with the Agent of Record for submission to the Town Manager on or before February
15 of each year.
G. The appointment of an Agent of Record for a term not
exceeding three years, and running from January 1 of the year of appointment.
The fee paid to the Agent of Record shall be subject to negotiation between
the Town and the Agent. The Agent of Record shall be selected based upon his
experience, staff capability, availability, volume of business, knowledge
of the Town and maintaining an office within a twenty-five-mile radius of
Rocky Hill. The Agent of Record shall be selected based upon public advertising
to seek candidates and prior to seeking bids from carriers for insurance coverage.
The Committee may, in its discretion, request the Agent of Record to continue
to service any policy which he issued beyond his term of office.
In obtaining needed coverage, the Committee shall see that coverage
is obtained at the lowest possible cost, commensurate with achieving a proper
level of service, by whatever means the Committee deems advisable. The use
of sealed bids shall be required in seeking candidates for appointment as
Agent of Record and for obtaining proposals for various insurance coverages.
The award of bid need not be to the lowest bidder, but shall be made in the
Town's best interests.
All insurance policies, bonds and similar and related documents shall
be kept on file in the office of the Director of Finance. All of these documents
shall be retained in accordance with schedules established by the Examiner
of Public Records, State of Connecticut.
Annually, a statement of coverage, showing values and limits, shall
be filed with the Town Council and Town Manager.
Employee benefits, such as group insurance and retirement plan, shall
be under the jurisdiction of the Town Manager and not the Insurance Committee.
The Committee may, when in its judgment the Town's interests will best
be served, waive the requirement to obtain sealed bids, setting forth in its
minutes the specific reasons for this waiver.
Bids received for insurance coverage shall be evaluated based upon cost,
service reputation, experience in the field and the capability for prompt
processing of claims.
The Committee may, when it deems necessary, select and engage a consultant
to prepare bid specifications and provide such other services as it deems
advisable, provided that moneys are available to pay for said services.
Public written advertisement in a newspaper having circulation in the Town is required in seeking proposals for the Agent of Record, insurance coverage (unless waived in §
26-10 above) and consulting services.