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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city isn&#8217;t waiting until the last minute this year to get insurance coverage and is soliciting proposals well in advance of the August deadline.</p><p>Agencies or firms have until June 19 to respond with proposals for professional service, property and casualty, and professional liability insurance. The proposal that includes the scope of work and services are available in the City Clerk&#8217;s office on the fourth floor of City Hall.</p><p>Last year the city awarded a $430,702 contract to Joyce Insurance Group of Pittston on Aug. 11, three days before coverage ended. City Administrator Ted Wampole defended the no-bid, one-year deal, saying it saved the city money. Joyce had been doing business with the city for more than 20 years and had the coverage that was going to expire on Aug. 14.</p><p>But Councilman Bill Barrett, who was chairman at the time, said the city should solicit proposals for the next contract and avoid a repeat of buying coverage at the last minute.</p><p>&#8220;We have to be fair to everybody,&#8221; Barrett said Tuesday. By starting early it should attract more interest and generate competitive offers, especially at a time when the city is struggling financially, he added.</p><p>&#8220;We need to be open, transparent and fair as possible. We&#8217;re dealing with public money,&#8221; Barrett said.</p><p>Wampole said the city has taken council&#8217;s advice to improve the process.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve had an insurance advisory team helping us for the last six or seven months,&#8221; Wampole said. The team has assisted in drafting the proposal and will also help evaluate the proposals submitted in reply to the solicitation, he said.</p><p>Wampole, a former insurance salesman, cautioned that not many companies like to write municipal insurance and the response is likely to be limited.</p><p>Joyce and Cummings Insurance Agency in Dunmore submitted proposals last year.</p><p>Premiums for the existing package by Joyce were $263,484 less than the previous contract&#8217;s total of $694,186. The biggest savings were $153,834 in general liability and $77,368 business auto policies. Law enforcement liability increased $1,902.</p><p>The package listed premiums for the following lines:</p><p>&#8226; Property $74,996</p><p>&#8226; Inland marine $14,904</p><p>&#8226; Boiler and machinery $11,632</p><p>&#8226; General liability $74,000</p><p>&#8226; Business auto $74,147</p><p>&#8226; Fidelity bond $922</p><p>&#8226; Crime $1,031</p><p>&#8226; Public officials/Employment practices liability $74,150</p><p>&#8226; Law enforcement liability $70,093</p><p>&#8226; Firefighters professional liability $4,641</p><p>&#8226; Fiduciary liability $10,609</p><p>&#8226; General and professional liability health department $19,577.</p><p><ins>For other local news stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/local" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Insurance coverage proposals sought by Wilkes-Barre