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Council approves replacement of Veterans Park benches; insurer to reimburse town for uninsured driver damage
Summary
A vehicle damaged custom Victor Stanley benches in Veterans Park; council approved payment to replace the benches so the local vendor can begin manufacturing while the town's insurer will reimburse costs.
The council voted on Sept. 18 to authorize replacement of custom Victor Stanley benches that were destroyed when an uninsured driver struck elements of Veterans Park.
Public Works Director Jay explained the benches are custom‑made to form a flag pattern and must be manufactured slot‑by‑slot, which creates a lead time of several months. The town's insurer adjusted its coverage after the town submitted actual replacement costs; staff said the driver was uninsured. Town staff noted the replacement cost exceeded the mayor's spending limit and therefore required council approval to proceed so the local vendor can start fabrication.
The council voted to approve the town expenditure with the understanding the insurer has committed to reimburse the town; staff said the normal process has been that the town pays initially and is later reimbursed by the insurer. The mayor asked staff to follow up with the town treasurer to complete procurement and payment processing.
Why it matters: the benches are a visible feature in Veterans Park and the choice to authorize replacement enables a local vendor to begin fabrication promptly; because the driver was uninsured the town will initially cover costs subject to insurer reimbursement.
