Council tables Enterprise Fleet lease after members flag insurance, contract concerns

The Decatur City Council voted to table action on a proposed lease and sale agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management Inc. after councilmembers raised concerns about insurance language and other contract provisions that they said require more review.

Council staff said an addendum was added the morning of the meeting that would allow the city to self-insure liability coverage in the Enterprise agreement in addition to previously included comprehensive/property-damage self-insurance. A staff speaker said, “There's a slight change to the betterment of the city ... there's an addendum which allows the city in this agreement to self insure liability insurance.”

Several councilmembers asked for additional time to review contract language, citing specific concern about sections 4, 6 and 8 of the contract. Councilmember Jackson moved to table the item to the council’s June 2 meeting; the motion was seconded by Councilmember McMasters and the motion to table passed. The item will return to the council for further review on June 2.

Council discussion did not produce a final decision on whether the city will accept the self-insurance addendum; councilmembers asked staff to provide more information about financial exposure, deductible arrangements, and how self-insurance would change the city’s risk profile under the proposed lease. One councilmember said he was uncomfortable approving the contract without a fuller discussion of incurred expenses linked to leasing.

The transcript shows the motion to table was adopted and the resolution authorizing the mayor to approve the agreement was postponed to the June 2 meeting for additional review.