Commissioners divided over shifting insurance [The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.]
By Kathy Mellott, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The recent switch of the county's excess workers' compensation program fund from the
The change is being made because the
"We're going to net a
The thousands of dollars already saved is in reference to two insurance-related contracts shifted to
In late May, Lengenfelder and
In
As with this latest shift, Commissioner
He termed the awards as "hand delivering business," to
At a cost of
Lengenfelder said at that time that
Chernisky wants to see the county shop around by seeking bids for the insurance contracts.
"We're telling vendors sometimes we shop, sometimes we don't," he said.
While the county code calls for the commissioners to seek competitive bids for many purchases, insurance contracts are considered professional services and can be awarded without bids, officials said.
Moving the contracts to
This latest action has caught the attention of
But county Controller
"There's politics in everything, and there has been politics when Democrats have taken over in the past," Cernic said.
"Is this politics?
He cited an example when Democrats
A contract for insurance held by the then-Gleason agency was discontinued, Cernic said. Officials determined the contract unnecessary and did not move it to another agency.
"I don't have a problem with politics as long as the end result benefits the taxpayers. Then I'm all for it," Cernic said.
___
(c)2013 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)
Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 585 |
After 65 years, work still a part of Moon’s ‘retirement’ [Middletown Journal, Ohio]
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News