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Claims fall to lowest level in 11 years; city recovers $50,000 after Remington fire
Summary
Committee staff reported 24 open claims citywide (about 14 excluding the board of education), credited pothole repairs, police body cameras and HR staffing for reductions, and described a Remington building fire that cost more than $200,000 with a $50,000 deductible that was reimbursed by the insurer.
City insurance staff told the Middletown Insurance and Claims Committee on Jan. 6 that pending claims have fallen to their lowest level in 11 years, offering several examples and saying the decline is due in part to road repairs, police body cameras and improved human-resources practices.
“As of this morning, when I checked it's at 24,” the chair said, reporting roughly 24 open claims across the city and estimating about 14 open claims when Board of Education items are excluded. He added the total pending claims have fallen from earlier counts of roughly 70–75 and about 50 in prior years.
Staff reviewed two recent claim items. One involved a sanitation vehicle that rolled on a slight incline and scratched a fence, with damage reported at about $800. The other was a May fire at a Remington building that damaged a lower-level photography suite; staff said total costs were “in excess of $200,000,” and that the city paid a $50,000 deductible that was later recovered from the insurer. "So as they, as they say, it's as if it never happened," the chair added about the financial recovery.
The chair credited Middletown Public Works’ road maintenance and pothole repairs, the police department’s use of body-worn cameras and a fully staffed human-resources department for reducing claim frequency and severity. Committee members responded that the report was welcome news and asked staff to continue monitoring trends and to call special meetings if claim activity increases.
No settlement votes or other formal actions were taken on Jan. 6; staff said the committee would convene for settlement recommendations only when necessary.
