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Specialty Lines
One of the things we work hard to do at CCAP is to be responsive. We like to try to anticipate issues, and when they arise, be ready to deal with them to help our members, whether it is just providing information, or advice, or risk management strategies. Sometimes this even means creating a new insurance coverage. A couple of years ago we did this with Cyber Liability. Now the next big example is drones.
Drones have been a hot risk management and insurance topic for some time, especially now that they are generally available for purchase at a low cost. We've been watching this issue and learning more, and recently reminded our members that PCoRP does not have any coverage for the liability resulting from use of a drone. Drones are aircraft and PCoRP's liability coverage excludes aviation exposures, as do most commercial insurance policies for public entities.
Our reinsurer took the lead on this topic and started providing coverage a couple of months ago, and on September 11 the PCoRP Board authorized coverage. One of the reasons that we made this decision was that one PCoRP member has purchased a drone and is looking to use it and needs the coverage. The county is proposing to use the drone for taking training photos at the public safety training campus, and as a resource available to public safety agencies in the county to use for lost people searches, large fires, police incidents and damage assessment after storms.
We will send more details to PCoRP members soon. Our coverage will require each drone to be endorsed onto the county's Memorandum of Coverage, and there is a fairly detailed application to be completed, which includes the need for a Certificate of Authorization issued by the FAA for each drone. PCoRP members will have the option of purchasing liability coverage with limits up to $1 million, $2 million or $3 million. Property coverage for the drone can also be provided by PCoRP.
Again, make sure your county staff knows that buying and operating a drone is not a quick, easy thing to do, if you want to do it right. Make sure you have complied with FAA requirements and that you have your insurance coverage in place!
Make sure you contact us when you need help with something,
John Sallade
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Welcome New CCAP Insurance Staff Members!
Two new members of the insurance staff joined CCAP on Monday, September 14. Both are filling new positions on the staff.
Barb Zemlock, Insurance Boards Legal Counsel, is an attorney who will be representing the COMCARE, Health Alliance, PComp, PCoRP, PIMCC and UC Trust boards of directors. She will also be working with the insurance staff on legal matters, coverage questions, claim litigation and other insurance legal matters on behalf of these boards. Prior to joining CCAP, Barb was in private practice, and was the contracted counsel for PCoRP and the Health Alliance, and was interim counsel for PComp and the UC Trust. You can contact Barb via email: bzemlock@pacounties.org, direct dial (717) 736-4762, or toll free at (800) 895-9039 x 3362.
Cassandra "Cassie" Troup, Insurance Marketing Associate, will be coordinating the marketing efforts for all CCAP insurance and cooperative programs. This includes design of marketing campaigns and materials, including hard copy, online and social media platforms. Cassie comes to CCAP from Nationwide, where she was a claims specialist, commercial lines underwriter, and medical claims adjuster, and was responsible for marketing to local insurance producers and designing marketing materials. You can contact Cassie via email: ctroup@pacounties.org, direct dial (717) 736-4756, or toll free at (800) 895-9039 x 3356.
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Calling CCAP's Insurance Staff
You may have noticed that CCAP has transitioned to an automated phone answering system. Here are a couple of updates for you.
- If you are not sure who to talk to, press "0" and that will connect you with someone who can help you get in touch with the right person.
- If you know the extension of the CCAP staff person, you can enter it at any time. That will take you right to the phone on their desk.
- A new feature is direct dial numbers. All staff now have a phone number you can dial which also gets you right to the phone on their desk.
See the list below for all insurance staff and their contact information.
Calling CCAP's Insurance Programs: (800) 895-9039.
Staff Member
| Extension
| Direct Dial
| Alexa Arroyo
| 3367
| (717) 736-4767
| Karen Cohen
| 3307
| (717) 736-4707
| Dennis Cutler
| 3210
| (717) 736-4746
| Marsha Elmer
| 3338
| (717) 736-4738
| Patty Ensminger
| 3333
| (717) 736-4733
| Donna Evans
| 3332
| (717) 736-4732
| Tona Faust
| 3357
| (717) 736-4757
| Kim Fino
| 3359
| (717) 736-4759
| Dave Harman
| 3331
| (717) 736-4731
| Jean Henry
| 3382
| (717) 736-4782
| Cathy Hoffman
| 3366
| (717) 736-4766
| Susan Horne
| 3363
| (717) 736-4763
| Julia Jackson
| 3305
| (717) 736-4705
| Tessa Kelley
| 3368
| (717) 736-4768
| Marian Mark
| 3329
| (717) 736-4729
| Maureen McMahon
| 3306
| (717) 736-4706
| Cassandra Piaskowski
| 3365
| (717) 736-4765
| Linda Rosito
| 3328
| (717) 736-4728
| John Sallade
| 3309
| (717) 736-4709
| Andrew Smith
| 3369
| (717) 736-4769
| Kimberly Stratton
| 3330
| (717) 736-4730
| Cassie Troup
| 3356
| (717) 736-4756
| Jen Ulsh
| 3375
| (717) 736-4775
| Keith Wentz
| 3324
| (717) 736-4724
| Barb Zemlock
| 3362
| (717) 736-4762
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Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!
Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That's the message behind this year's Fire Prevention Week - October 4-10, 2015. "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!"
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reminds you about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
In a fire, seconds count. Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. When most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.
According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
- Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don't respond properly.
- Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.
- If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
- Call the fire department from outside the home.
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Local Court Security Committee Workshops
AOPC's (Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts) Office of Judicial Security will be conducting their annual Local Court Security Committee Workshops this fall. This year's workshop will include a session on active shooter responses presented by an FBI Special Agent.
"Save-the-date" invitations are being sent to judges, county commissioners and district court administrators. In addition to the key committee members, others who serve on the local committee are invited to attend.
If you have any questions about the upcoming workshop, or to register, please contact Rebecca Brandt with the AOPC at (717) 231-3315 or rebecca.brandt@pacourts.us.
Here is the list of the workshops being offered by the AOPC:
UNIFIED JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF PENNSYLVANIA
LOCAL COURT SECURITY COMMITTEE WORKSHOPS
Date
| Location
| October 16, 2015
| Hilton Scranton Conference Center
| November 9, 2015
| Double Tree by Hilton, Pittsburgh - Green Tree
| November 10, 2015
| Hampton Inn Grove City
| November 20, 2015
| Penn Stater Conference Center, State College
| December 4, 2015
| Double Tree by Hilton, Plymouth Meeting
| December 11, 2015
| Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts PA Judicial Center, Harrisburg
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Fall Workshop Season Continues!
The fall workshop season is off to a great start but we have a lot more to offer this fall. We have our popular KEYS (Keep Educating Your Staff) sessions dealing with communicating effectively, workers' compensation and a session that delves into why your employees hate you. We are also offering our Prison Personnel Workshop in November as well as our County Risk Managers Council in in both Harrisburg and in Cranberry Township.
If you would like additional copies of the Glimpse for your co-workers, or if there is someone in your county that you would like to add to the list to receive the Glimpse please let us know. As a reminder our registration process is completely done online so please see Glimpse Online in order to register.
Keep in mind, if your county is a member of the sponsoring insurance programs, workshops are free to attend. This now includes all Defensive Driving Courses for PComp and PCoRP members. As always, lunch is included!
To check if your county is a member of the sponsoring program, please refer to Glimpse Online and CCAP Insurance Programs Member Listing.
Here is a quick look at the remaining fall workshop season. Mark your calendars!
FALL WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES:
OCTOBER
The CCAP Insurance Programs continue to collaborate with the Academy for Excellence in County Government. Please refer to our website for additional information on co-sponsored events. These workshops are FREE to current Academy participants.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Linda Rosito, Risk Management Training Director at (800) 895-9039 x 3328.
I look forward to seeing you this fall!
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2016 Excellence in County Leadership Program
CCAP is pleased to present the 2016 Center for Excellence in County Leadership (CEL) program to help county officials to develop a professional culture for county government.
Strong leadership is essential to county success and future growth. The CEL Program offers county commissioners or council members, chief clerks, county administrators and solicitors in Pennsylvania's 67 counties the opportunity to be immersed in an intensive leadership curriculum which will enhance personal and professional growth. The program features curriculum including managerial versatility, interpersonal dynamics, crisis communication, media management, problem solving, decision making and more.
The two and a half-day intensive program will be held at the CCAP office in Harrisburg on June 15 - 17, 2016. We invite you to explore this exciting educational opportunity offered exclusively by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). Participation is available to one eligible person per county per year, with a maximum of 16 participants per year. Application is required by January 15, 2016 to be considered for participation in the June 2016 session.
More detailed information and an application are available on the CEL homepage or brochure and application (PDF).
We invite you to be involved in this exciting program!
PCoRP, PComp and the CCAP UC Trust are pleased to be sponsors of the CEL program.
Please feel free to contact Mandi Glantz directly with questions. |
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Upcoming Events
UC Trustees Board Meeting
October 9, 2015, 10 a.m.
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
PIMCC Board Meeting
October 23, 2015, 10:30 a.m.
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
COMCARE PRO Annual Subscriber's Meeting October 27, 2015, 2 p.m.
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
County Risk Managers Council Meeting October 30, 2015, 10 a.m. CCAP Office, Harrisburg
PELICAN SAC Meeting
November 12, 2015, 10 a.m.
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
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HOT TOPIC
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This is one of those technical insurance and risk management issues that is pretty complicated. We get questions on this from time to time, and the main point to be made is that this is just not a coverage that the county should buy in high limits.
The coverage is designed to fill the void when an entity's driver is involved in a not-at-fault accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist. From the county's standpoint, when this happens it is most likely the county employee is going to be covered by workers' compensation, and also may have coverage from their own auto insurance UM/UIM coverage (if they were driving their own car). The point is, UM/UIM offers no protection to the county, and having high limits just exposes the county to the potential of higher claims costs. Add to this that in Pennsylvania we are seeing more plaintiff's attorneys trying to access this coverage from the public entity for benefits to those injured in auto accidents.
This is why PCoRP did away with providing Underinsured Motorist coverage several years and reduced its Uninsured Motorist coverage limit to match the minimum coverage required by state law, which is $35,000 per accident.
If you want to delve into this a little more, here's a great article on the topic .
For more information, contact Karen Cohen, Property & Casualty Programs Manager, at CCAP.
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Quote of the Month
"Apart from what they do for the military, drones have already proven themselves capable sheep herders, delivery boys, tour guides, filmmakers, archaeologists
and possibly, spies."
- CNN
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