Midland Park November 4, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Town may take over insurance costs for sports groups The Borough of Midland Park is looking to insure all recreational sports organizations under one policy paid for by the borough. The organizations, informally known as “quasi” groups, are separately-managed volunteer entities. Currently each sports organization secures and pays for its own liability insurance covering the players for the season. The result is that there is no uniformity of coverage: there are different limits, and different types of coverage with conditions and exclusions. According to the borough’s risk manager, Steve Puntaseca, this practice leaves the borough vulnerable should a serious accident or injury occur. The borough, through its JIF/MEL coverage, holds the umbrella policy for the groups. “Any reduction in exposure, hence losses, via sound underlying insurance programs, is imperative,” Puntaseca noted in a letter following his review of the individual insurance policies of the “quasi” organizations. The borough is considering a proposal from Bollinger Insurance, which, according to Borough Administrator Michelle Dugan, would be less expensive in the aggregate than the annual subsidy the town now gives the sports groups. “We are asking the board of recreation to see if uniform coverage works with all the groups, to see how to implement it, and to report to the council in time for the adoption of the 2010 budget,” Dugan said. The administrator explained that under the policy being considered, directors and officers coverage, which now the “quasis” do not carry, would be included at a nominal cost. The flat rate charge for background checks for coaches would also be much lower than what the borough pays currently. “I think this is a great approach for all parties concerned. The groups get the benefit of coverage that some are now lacking. The town gets a better buffer zone in that there is uniformity among all ‘quasis’ with adequate limits. The program offered by Bollinger has been well established over the years and has a proven ‘track record.’ This means it is not subject to extreme price sensitivity unless, of course, there is a lot of claims activity,” Puntaseca said. He added that some of the “quasis” will see lower pricing, and a few will see an increase, but all the participants will have the same coverage. Puntaseca said that there may be some coverages that some of the groups may require that the Bollinger proposal may not include, such as coverage for travelling teams and for property, such as the snack bar. He said he thought these issues would be easily resolved if identified in advance. As for bonding of the organizations’ treasurers, he said this coverage would probably have to continue being the responsibility of each organization. He said that the JIF does not permit the “quasis” to be under the borough’s blanket bond coverage or coverage for the directors and officers. Veterans’ Day service set The Midland Park/Wyckoff Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7086 will hold the annual Veterans’ Day Service in Veterans Plaza, Wortendyke Station, Midland Park, on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. All are invited to join in honoring all past and present veterans and their sacrifices for this nation. HEALTH MIND and BODY “You be the Star on the Red Carpet” “You Be the Chef” Private Lesson, Self Defense, Family Class Discipline • Concentration Respect • Confidence Healthier Life • Weight Control Strength • Inner Peace For Children: For Adults: We Are Parties • Playland • Archade • Turf/Sports • Baseball • Wacky Science Friday, November 6th • 7-9 pm Family Fun Nights will run the 1st Friday of the month from November through June. CALL FOR DETAILS!!! FREE Birthday Child or Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Playland Bring this ad for a 854 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 • htaekwondo8585@gmail.com 11-4-09 janine InTheSwing3x3(11-4-09) 3 x 5” 10-21-09 pat/janine HTaeKwonDo3x3(10-21-09) 3 x 3”