Ashford Town Board addresses insurance

At the Ashford Town Board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, officials discussed the town’s insurance problems with Phil Moyer of the Weast Insurance Agency. Deliberated that evening was a $9,939 tow to Buffalo for a town truck that was damaged by fire in 2011.

Moyer, who helps the town shop for insurance coverage, explained that he did not receive confirmation from the Trident Insurance Agency, the company that insured the damaged truck, that the $9,939 bill was paid. He added that the company “may be fighting” the bill, as well.

Moyer said that if Trident paid the bill, he believed it was because they “looked at the bill and said, ‘We dropped the ball. We should have paid this back in March or April and we didn’t.’” As a result of this, Moyer said, “When they realized it was their screwup, they probably just went ahead and paid it.”

When asked by Board Member Bill Heim if Weast had a record of whether the bill was paid or not, Weast Agency Vice President Lauren Moyer explained, “We looked into the system and it just shows that it’s still open. It doesn’t show a confirmation that they’ve paid it.”

Phil Moyer said, “There is always a gap in the process from when something actually gets paid and we, as an agent, gets notified.”

Heim said, “I would like to know for myself if we’re dealing with an insurance company that actually would allow someone to bill them something like that and actually pay it.”

Moyer said that he would contact the Trident Insurance Agency to see whether the bill was paid or not.

He also said that the town’s premium is going to be “around $3,100 less this year than it was last year.” Explaining that the reduction in the premium’s cost does not mean the town is receiving less coverage, Moyer said that the reduction in the cost of the premium “has everything to do with how Trident is structuring their policies [and how] we were able to take advantage of that and create a savings of $3,100.”

He added that, “If your premiums went up, it’s because you have added vehicles or have a larger budget. The actual rates that are charged,” he explained, have “all remained the same or have gone down.”

Board members asked Moyer about purchasing terrorism insurance, but he explained that he thinks it is “unnecessary” for a municipality to have this type of insurance.

Board Member John Pfeffer asked Moyer if he thought that “a town with a high-level nuclear waste facility and a bioterrorism research facility” should have this type of insurance, and Moyer responded that “the state, as I understand it, is ultimately responsible. They’re the ones that adopted the terrorism policy that operates in New York, so they’re going to cover us.”

The board chose to not add this type of insurance to its coverage.

In other matters, the board discussed the closing of the old Route 219 high level bridge. Supervisor Chris Gerwitz reported that he was contacted by a New York State Department of Transportation engineer on Jan. 5 and was told by the official that “they found something questionable” and that the bridge was going to be evaluated for the next four - six weeks.

Board Member Charlie Davis said, “I talked to Senator [Catherine] Young’s office yesterday and I can tell you that she’s pushing for them to get it done as quickly as it is possible. With that being said, keep in mind this design is the same one of the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis, Minn.”

In discussing the bridge’s closing, the board also raised its concerns for the Amish individuals who have utilized the old Route 219 bridge to travel between Ashford and Springville and are reported to be using the Mill Street Bridge in light of the closing of the old 219 Bridge.

Heim said that using the Mill Street Bridge may be dangerous for these people, as he explained that “Mill Street is very narrow and coming down there with horses would be a real issue in the winter time.” He described the bridge as “steep” and “windy.”

In other news:

- A resolution was passed placing a six-month moratorium on signage that is different from what the town currently allows in its sign law.

- According to Code Enforcement Officer Gary Perkins, the Odosagih Bible Conference and Retreat Center in Machias is looking to erect an LED sign on the old Route 219.

- The board passed a motion to allow the town clerk to advertise for bidding concerning the Fox Valley Road Bridge Replacement.

- A motion to add signs on Riceville Road was approved by the board.

- Paul Bembia, program director for West Valley Site Management, asked whether or not the town had joined the Energy Community Alliances.

Gerwitz responded that he believed the board previously approved a motion to join the group and mentioned that he would look for confirmation to see whether or not the board officially approved the motion.

- An agreement to spend highway funds was approved.

The next board meeting is scheduled to take place on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.