Contractor HomeServe outlines optional service‑line protection plan to Chesapeake Beach council

A representative of HomeServe (endorsed by the National League of Cities) presented a turnkey, optional service‑line protection program to the Chesapeake Beach Town Council on July 17. The program would offer residents optional protection plans for external water lines, external sewer lines, and in‑home plumbing; the vendor handles marketing, billing, claims and customer service at no cost to the town.

Ashley Swierlski, Senior Director of Business Development for the National League of Cities service line program (administered by HomeServe), said the company partners nationwide with municipalities and utilities to provide education about private‑side responsibility for service lines and to offer subscription‑style protection. She described three optional coverages: external water line protection (up to $8,500 per incident), external sewer line protection (also up to $8,500 per incident), and in‑home plumbing protection (up to $3,000 per incident). Swierlski emphasized there is no service call fee and no per‑incident deductible under the plan and that HomeServe would contract with local plumbers to perform repairs.

Councilmembers asked practical questions about town involvement, community impact and revenue. Swierlski said the town’s role would be limited to approving and reviewing direct‑mail marketing materials and that the town would receive a royalty equal to 10% of premiums collected if it participates (the town could decline the revenue and reduce resident premiums instead). Council members asked whether the protections could be sold directly to residents without a municipal marketing agreement; Swierlski said a standard commercial version exists but that municipal partnership programs typically deliver broader coverage at lower cost and allow local contractor coordination.

Council members also asked whether HomeServe offers a separate leak‑adjustment insurance product; Swierlski confirmed they do, and described it as an insurance policy designed to replace a town’s leak adjustment program with a small monthly charge and a capped bill forgiveness amount.

Why it matters: The program is optional for residents and requires no town appropriation, but it could affect resident awareness, local contractor work, and town communications. Councilmembers discussed tradeoffs: consumer protection and education versus concerns about municipal endorsement and revenue from vendor partnerships.

Next steps: HomeServe offered to provide materials for the council’s review; staff indicated any mailings would be sent only with town approval.