Council tables moral-claim reimbursement for employee whose windshield was struck during city event

The council considered a moral-claim request from a city employee seeking reimbursement after a softball struck and damaged the employee’s windshield during an approved city event. The claimant initially requested $1,099.02 (a memo referenced $1,052.50 after an apparent payment correction), but the city code caps a moral-claim reimbursement at $1,000.

Council members questioned whether the employee had first submitted a claim to their personal insurance. "Our ordinances say it has to be submitted to insurance," one council member said during the discussion. Councilman Snitsky expressed concern about setting a precedent for reimbursing damage caused by foul balls and asked whether insurance should cover glass damage. Councilperson Stacy Kelly suggested tabling the item so the claimant (identified in the meeting as Mr. Zapotelli) could submit it to his insurer if required by the moral-claim ordinance; Brian Kelly seconded the motion to table and the council agreed by voice vote.

The council also noted the mayor had provided a memo and that members had received it at a prior meeting; because one councilmember reported not having seen the memo earlier, members agreed to attempt to resolve insurance questions before the September meeting and otherwise address the claim in the next regular session.