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Indivisible MT asks Columbia to waive insurance requirement for Saturday march staging; council considers options
Summary
Organizers for an Indivisible MT march requested use of Rotary Park as a staging area and asked the borough to waive its insurance requirement after multiple insurers declined coverage for politically associated events. Council asked staff about parking, insurance alternatives and whether waivers or consultant coverage would be permitted.
Organizers from Indivisible MT asked Columbia Borough Council on July 15 for permission to use Rotary Park as a staging area for a march onto the Veterans Memorial Bridge and requested an insurance-waiver because they said insurers had declined to cover political events.
Rachel Moore, speaking for Indivisible MT, said the event is planned as a short, peaceful march in honor of Congressman John Lewis and that organizers expect roughly 100 to 200 participants to gather at Rotary Park at 8 a.m., receive instructions, then walk to the bridge and return by about 9:20 a.m. She said organizers paid the application and late fees but have not yet secured a certificate of insurance and had trouble finding an insurer willing to cover politically associated events. "Insurance companies just run away when you say, that something is political in nature," Moore said, describing multiple rejections.
Council considered whether the borough's permit requirements could be relaxed or an alternative offered. Staff confirmed the borough's current special-event ordinance requires insurance; the ordinance's insurance requirement may be waived by the governing body, and council has the authority to impose alternative conditions. Councilmembers asked about parking plans (organizers said they had permission to use the Watch and Clock Museum and Holy Trinity lots), crowd size estimates and safety marshals. Moore said she had a written safety plan, volunteer marshals and coordination with regional police departments for safety.
Council did not vote on the permit request that night. Members asked staff to follow up on possible alternatives, including whether liability coverage could be obtained through the League of Women Voters or whether the borough could accept a certificate from an affiliated nonprofit. Staff also noted that waiving the insurance requirement, or accepting a third-party nonprofit's coverage, is a policy decision the council can make; council asked staff to return with options and legal recommendations.
The organizers said they prefer to work with borough officials and law enforcement to keep the event peaceful and to avoid interfering with a separate noon memorial event at River Park. Council requested documentation of the safety plan and confirmation of parking agreements before deciding on an insurance waiver or other accommodations.
Next steps: staff will investigate insurance alternatives and legal implications of a waiver, and return to council with options and recommended conditions for approval if warranted.
