Volume 28 
                                         Issue 3
                                         March 2018
                                         www.pacounties.org 
                                                                                      

INSURANCE MATTERS

An e-newsletter of the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania Insurance Programs
Owned by Members     Governed by Members     Service to Members
In This Issue
PComp's 25th Anniversary
Underground Storage Tank Fuel
New Members Join the CCAP Insurance Boards
Hot Topics
Spring Workshop Season
Workplace Eye Wellness
Nationwide 457(b)
U.S. Communities
17th Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
New Associate Members
Staff Notes
Upcoming Events
Quote of the Month
 
Quick Links
  
  
Join Our Mailing List
 (800) 895-9039
Specialty Lines
 
 
 
For me, once the calendar hits March 1, it is spring! Any snow in March will not last long, and nothing will deter me from starting to enjoy spring, driving with car windows open, and procrastinating the dreaded trimming of shrubbery.

March is also when our risk management training events begin to bloom (sorry) and we hit you with the schedule of events. By now you should have received your GLIMPSE catalog of spring workshops - and if not you, someone in the county has one or more copies. Go on our website and check out the dates and topics.

In addition to our continuing Defensive Driving Classes, and other regular topics, check out the following:
  • Major Challenges for County Management workshops
  • Feedback, Problem Employees and Discipline - OH MY!
  • HR Bootcamp (always popular!)
  • Prison Risk Management Workshop
  • Two Risk Manager Council meetings

These sessions are free to the counties and county related entities who are members of PCoRP, PComp and the CCAP UC Trust.
 
Make sure you contact us when you need help with something,
  



PComp to Celebrate 25th Anniversary!

Join us at the CCAP Spring Conference, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday night, March 19, for the annual PComp Membership Meeting, which this year will include a 25th anniversary celebration! Our theme is Safety in Numbers, and we will be recognizing PComp's members.
 
There is no cost to attend the dinner meeting, and your spouse or guest is welcome, too. Please email  us to let us know who from your county will be attending. A separate personal email will be sent to all commissioners, council members, county executives, chief clerks, solicitors, county administrators and local insurance producers from PComp members.
 
The CCAP Spring Conference is being held at the Harrisburg Hilton. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Click here to register for the PComp dinner.

 

Underground Storage Tank Fuel Distribution Fee Reminder

Richard Burgan, Executive Director of the state's Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF) has asked us to notify counties that the program area rolled out a new online fee billing and payment system on July 1, 2017.
  
The new system now allows USTIF to track fuel deliveries down to the specific tank level at fueling facilities or those entities that have UST's. They have recently discovered a trend whereby distributors are NOT reporting fuel deliveries to townships, cities, boroughs, and other municipal entities and therefore, not remitting the mandatory fees and in turn, jeopardizing any potential claim coverage for those entities. It seems that either the fuel distributor or government entity believes it is "exempt" from the fees as a result of their tax-exempt status and therefore the distributor is not reporting the deliveries and/or collecting the fees.

Last month USTIF sent notifications to 390 distributors and 100 to various governmental entities advising them the fees must be collected and are not subject to exemption. If there is a release of fuel from a tank where fees have not been collected, this could result in lack of USTIF insurance coverage in the event of a claim.
  
If your county owns any underground fuel storage tanks, it is important to understand that the USTIF fees are not tax exempt and either the county or your fuel distributor should be reporting the deliveries and remitting the required fees.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Richard. Counties can direct questions to the dedicated USTIF email account at
ra-ustif@pa.gov. Additional information is available on the USTIF Website. Richard's contact information is: Richard J. Burgan, AIC, Director, Bureau of Special Funds, PA Insurance Department, 901 N. 7th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, (717) 783-8093 X 3404, Fax (717) 705-0140.

New Members Join the CCAP Insurance Boards
 
Welcome and thank you to the following county officials and staff who have agreed to join the various CCAP insurance boards:
  
Ted Tharan, Clarion County Commissioner, and Kathleen Majot, Potter County Chief Clerk, who are joining the Health Alliance Board.
  
Jeff Marshall, Greene County Chief Clerk, Jim Bahorik, Juniata County Chief Clerk, Jim Gagliano, Lawrence County Administrator, Beth Johnston, Lycoming County Finance Director, Alan Hall, Susquehanna County Commissioner, and Jeff Eggleston, Warren County Commissioner are joining the CCAP Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee.
  
Jim Jones, Administrator of the Central Counties Youth Center, joins the PCoRP Board.
  
Carl Anderson III, Erie County Councilmember, and Kristy Bixler, Executive Director, Human Resources, York County, who are joining the UC Trustees.
  
Here is a complete listing of the all insurance and member services boards. We thank all the board members for participating in the governance of these member owned programs. Special thanks to those who have agreed to assume leadership responsibilities as officers of the boards!
 
CCAP Health Alliance Board of Directors
Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner), Chairman
Barry Dallara (Bedford County Commissioner)
GeorgeAnna Ferrara (Human Resources Director, Carbon-Monroe-Pike MH/DS)
Ted Tharan (Clarion County Commissioner)
Jeff Snyder (Clinton County Commissioner)
Janis Kemmer (Elk County Commissioner)
Basil Huffman (Forest County Commissioner)
Karen King (Lawrence County Director of Personnel)
Matt McConnell (Mercer County Commissioner)
Kathleen Majot (Potter County Chief Clerk/HR Director)
Steve Howsare (Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission Executive
Director)
           
COMCARE PRO Subscribers' Advisory Committee
Scott Suhring (Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative - CABHC), President
Dave McAdoo (Southwest Behavioral Health Management, Inc.), Vice President
Jonna DiStefano (Delaware County BH/ID)
Rick Kastner (Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission)
Jim Gallagher (Northeastern Behavioral Health Care Consortium)
Brenda Stewart (AIG, Vermont Resident)
           
CCAP Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee
Dennis Stuckey (Lancaster County Commissioner), Chairman
Mark Scott (Berks County Commissioner)
Daryl Miller (Bradford County Commissioner)
Leslie Osche (Butler County Commissioner)
Charles Martin (Franklin County HR Associate)
Jeff Marshall (Greene County Chief Clerk)
Jim Bahorik (Juniata County Chief Clerk)
Jim Gagliano (Lawrence County Administrator)
Beth Johnston (Lycoming County Finance Director)
Kevin Kodish (Mifflin County Commissioner)
Alan Hall (Susquehanna County Commissioner)
Roger Bunn (Tioga County Commissioner)
Jeff Eggleston (Warren County Commissioner)
 
PComp Board of Directors
Dan Vogler (Lawrence County Commissioner), Chairman
Jim Martin (Adams County Commissioner), Vice Chairman
Dee Robinson (Union County Chief Clerk), Secretary/Treasurer
Pam Humbert (Bedford - Somerset BHDS HR Director
Doug McLinko (Bradford County Commissioner)
Mark McCracken (Clearfield County Commissioner)
Jeff Snyder (Clinton County Commissioner)
John Christopher Soff (Crawford County Commissioner)
Sabrina Fischer (Erie County HR Director)
Mike Baker (Indiana County Commissioner)
Matt McConnell (Mercer County Commissioner)
Wylie Norton (Sullivan County Commissioner)
Derek Williams (Tioga County Chief Clerk)
Vicky Botjer (Wayne County Chief Clerk)

 
PCoRP Board of Directors
Frank Staudenmeier (Schuylkill County Commissioner), Chairman
Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner), Vice Chairman
Bill Gaylord (Wyoming County Chief Clerk), Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Crooks (Bedford County Commissioner)
Jim Jones (Central Counties Youth Center, Executive Director)
Krista Davis (Centre County Risk Management Coordinator)
Paul Conklin (Clinton County Commissioner)
David Witchey (Columbia County Chief Clerk)
Norm Wimer (Forest County Commissioner)
Mark Sather (Huntingdon County Commissioner)
Mark Partner (Juniata County Commissioner)
Jamie Wolgemuth (Lebanon County Chief Clerk)                                      
Dee Robinson (Union County Chief Clerk)
Larry Maggi (Washington County Commissioner) 
 
PELICAN Subscribers Advisory Committee
Kelly Andrisano (Executive Director, PACAH), President
James Aurand (Administrator, Susque-View Home), Vice President
Terry Brennan (Administrator, Berks Heim)
Edna Youngster (Risk Management Coordinator/Investigative Nurse, Gracedale Nursing Home)
Dennis Biondo (Executive Director, John J. Kane Centers)
Howard Jaffe, Esq. (Oak Health and Rehabilitation Centers)
Molly Hess (Administrator, Philadelphia Nursing Home)
Jacqueline McKenna (Administrator, Pocopson Home)
Diane Cleary (Vermont Director)
 
PIMCC Board of Directors
Dave Kovach (Columbia County Commissioner), Chairman
Michelle Shedden (Bradford County Chief Clerk)
Eloise Ahner (Carbon County Administrator)
Jeff Hornberger (Clarion County Warden)
Dominick DeRose (Dauphin County Director of Community Corrections)
Greg Gebauer (Elk County Warden)
Kevin DeParlos (Lycoming County Warden)
Kevin Kodish (Mifflin County Commissioner)
Bill Bunt (Perry County Solicitor)
Bruce Herdman (Philadelphia Prison System Chief of Medical Operations)
Terry Browning (Tioga County Warden)
 
CCAP UC Trustees
Derek Williams (Tioga County Chief Clerk), Chairman
Kevin Barnhardt (Berks County Commissioner)
Ed Bustin (Bradford County Commissioner)
Travis Monroe (Bucks County Human Resources Director)
Chuck Witmer (Centre County Controller)
Jeff Snyder (Clinton County Commissioner)
Carl Anderson III (Erie County Councilmember)
Jeff Thomas (Huntingdon County Commissioner)
Ron Williams (Wyoming County Commissioner)
Kristy Bixler (Executive Director, Human Resources, York County) 
 
CCAP Joint Investment Committee
Frank Staudenmeier, Schuylkill County Commissioner, Chairman
Jim Martin (Adams County Commissioner)
Terry Brennan (Administrator, Berks Heim)
Rick Kastner (Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission)
Jamie Wolgemuth (Lebanon County Chief Clerk)
Kelly Andrisano (Executive Director, PACAH)
Derek Williams (Tioga County Chief Clerk)
Vicky Botjer (Wayne County Chief Clerk)
Hot Topics
Which Insurer Gets the Claim?

When your county changes its liability coverage, for a period of time you will probably need to consider what happens if you get a new liability lawsuit against the county. Who do you report this to? We recommend you consult with your local insurance producer, and if there is any doubt about which insurer to report it to, report it to both. The key here may be your retroactive date for the applicable line of coverage, provided by your new insurer. Sometimes the date will vary by type of liability insurance, so don't assume the claim fits in a particular line of coverage, report it and let the insurer decide. It also matters if your prior coverage was a form ("claims made" or "occurrence") different from your current coverage. Let your local producer figure that out! If by some miracle both insurers agree to assume the claim, let them work it out. Hopefully what will happen is one insurer will deny the claim and the other will accept it. If both deny it, you may need to get your solicitor involved!
 
 
For more information, please contact Karen Cohen at CCAP.

Spring Workshop Season!
By: Linda Rosito, Risk Management Training Director

The CCAP Insurance Programs will be offering a full slate of excellent training opportunities starting this month. This season we are offering sessions on defensive driving, major challenges for management in 2018, policies and procedures, employee performance issues and our popular HR Boot Camp and Prison Risk Mangement Workshop.
 
Registration is now open! You should have already received your copy of the GLIMPSE. If you would like additional copies please let me know .  
 
For a complete listing of our risk management trainings, dates and location please see the chart below:
 
MARCH                                 
22
  Defensive Driving Course                 
Lewisburg
27
  Controlling Workers Compensation Costs
 State College

APRIL

MAY

JUNE
1
 County Risk Managers Council
 Cranberry Twp.


We continue to collaborate with The Academy for Excellence in County Government. This spring we offer additional opportunities to fulfill several of your required courses as well as to pick up some additional elective credits.  
 
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me , Risk Management Training Director at (717) 736-4728.
 
Thank you for your continued support of the CCAP Insurance Programs trainings! And I look forward to seeing you this spring!

Workplace Eye Wellness
By: Andrew C. Smith, Risk Control Specialist

We usually think of eye injuries as being isolated to outdoor jobs such as maintenance work, construction jobs and landscaping but working in an office setting can be just as hazardous to your eyesight. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that more than 20,000 workplace eye injuries happen each year. March is workplace eye safety month and important to understand the most common eye problems office workers experience is computer vision syndrome. The truth is, healthy vision is not a guarantee, and we should take time to care for our eyes.

When it comes to eye health, the more vision ailments employees have, the more medical care they need which generates increased health related expenses. Millions of American employees use digital electronic devices for the majority of their workday. Computer vision syndrome is not a myth. Digital electronic screens are the driving force that adds elements of screen contrast, flicker and glare. The symptoms of computer vision syndrome include blurred vision, dry eyes, red eyes, eye irritation, headaches, inattentiveness, neck and back pain. These problems are more likely to occur in employees that already have eye issues.

Implementing a vision wellness program and educating employees on eye safety is a great way to promote eye health at work. The goal of a vision wellness program is to educate employees about a variety of preventable, treatable and manageable eye related problems and diseases. It encourages adoption of preventative vision health behaviors and utilization of eye care services.
  • Visit an eye doctor for a dilated eye exam at least once a year. A comprehensive eye exam is crucial.
  • Place your digital electronic screens roughly thirty inches away from your eyes and the top of your screens should be at eye level.
  • Use a document holder placed next to your digital screens.
  • Adjust the text size on the screens to a comfortable level.
  • Adjust poor lighting to lower glare and reflections.
  • Adjust your digital screens away from any direct light source and invest in an anti-glare screen for your monitors.
  • Remember the 20-20-20 break; every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away.
  • Frequent blinking minimizes your risk of dry eyes.
  • Use over the counter, artificial tears to prevent dry eyes.
  • Drink plenty of water! Especially during winter months when the air is particularly dry.
     
The use of digital technology is a daily part of life for so many. It is important to be mindful of the effects that increased digital screen exposure can have on our eyes. Prevention or reduction of the vision problems associated with computer vision syndrome involves taking steps to control lighting and glare on the device screen, establishing proper working distances and posture for screen viewing, and assuring that even minor vision problems are properly corrected.
Nationwide 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan



U.S. Communities New Contract - Graybar

CCAP is proud to sponsor the U.S. Communities™ Government Purchasing Alliance. U.S. Communities is the leading national government purchasing cooperative that reduces the costs of goods and services by aggregating the purchasing power of public agencies nationwide. U.S. Communities provides participants with access to a broad line of competitively solicited contracts with national suppliers that have committed to providing their lowest overall public agency pricing.
 
U.S. Communities is excited to bring you new cooperative contracts. These contracts will provide best government pricing on products and services you need. The newest U.S. Communities contract is Graybar!

 
Electrical, Lighting, Data Communications & Security
 
Graybar is a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and a provider of supply chain management and logistic services. With this contract, you'll have access to:
  • Better overall contract pricing with targeted 5% discount savings based on agencies current procurement process
  • New supplier additions and complete service offering to support product sales
  • Volume incentive for participating agencies who meet attainment levels 
For contract information, click here! To have a representative from Graybar contact you, click here!

17th Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
June 7-8, 2018

Make plans to attend the Pennsylvania's Department of Labor & Industry, 17th Annual Workers' Compensation Conference will be on June 7-8, 2018 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. Experts in the field of workers' compensation, including representatives from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the Office of Adjudication, the WC Appeal Board, the insurance industry, employers, claimant and defense counsels, labor and the health care industry come together to share their knowledge and experience with the workers' compensation community.  Nearly 1,400 were in attendance at the 2017 conference, and each year's event includes knowledgeable and experienced speakers, respected in their field, who provide the latest information of Pennsylvania's workers' compensation program.  Attendees may also visit with 125 vendors in the exhibit hall to learn about their workers' compensation-related goods and services. 
 
Click here for more information!



New Associate Members

AndCo Consulting
www.andcoconsulting.com
Pension Services
AndCo Consulting is an independent, SEC registered institutional investment consulting firm. We serve as a fiduciary to each of our clients, without exception or caveat, while assisting and guiding them in making important investment and plan design decisions. Our firm delivers customized services to meet each client's unique needs. We offer a full range of investment and fiduciary consulting services for all types of institutional plans.

NJM Insurance
www.NJM.com
Insurance
Founded in 1913, NJM offers personal auto, homeowners, renters, condo, umbrella, motorcycle, collector car and boat insurance to consumers, and workers' compensation insurance to businesses. The Company operates in a true mutual fashion for the sole benefit of policyholders. In fact, NJM has earned a national reputation for outstanding customer and claims service, and is regularly a top performer in leading independent consumer surveys.

Staff Notes
 
Welcome to Diane Hovan, who joined the CCAP staff on February 6. Diane works on the PComp program, handling workers' compensation claims. She comes to us from Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, where she was a paralegal responsible for assisting the attorneys with workers' compensation claims. She can be reached at dhovan@pacounties.org, or (800) 895-9039 X 3396, or direct dial (717) 736-4796.
  
Congratulations to PComp and COMCARE PRO claims representative Alexa Evans who recently got married, formerly Alexa Arroyo. Her updated email address is aevans@pacounties.org. 

Upcoming Events
 
March 9, 2018
PIMCC Board Meeting
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
 
March 18-20, 2018
CCAP Spring Conference
Hilton Harrisburg, PA

April 5, 2018
PCoRP Board Meeting
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
Quote of the Month
 
  "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you sow."

- Robert Louis Stevenson
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Contact Us: John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs