STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor Borough Council’s first order of business July 21 was renewal of its membership in the Atlantic County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund.
The fund is a public entity that allows municipalities to pool resources in what is essentially a self-insurance program. The arrangement permits municipalities to significantly lower the cost of fire, liability, automobile, and workers compensation insurance.
Municipalities get the benefit of insurance but do not deal with an insurance company.
All 16 municipalities in Cape May County are part of the Atlantic County Municipal JIF which has a 27-year history.
Paul Miola, JIF executive director, made a presentation to council prior to the vote on the resolution to renew membership. Miola stressed the many advantages of JIF while also emphasizing the fact that the joint self-insurance fund only works if the municipalities manage risks well.
The fund establishes an incentive for good risk management through decreases in the annual assessment for coverage for good performers.
The JIF also pays dividends, which are returns of part of the assessments paid, because the organization has no profit incentive. Miola said that since inception the JIF has returned almost $25 million in dividends to members. Programs at the local level that help control risk and reduce claims help keep the JIF financially secure and cost effective. Miola said that less than 9 cents on the dollar goes to JIF administrative operations.
For 2015 Stone Harbor’s assessment for participation in JIF is $403,207.
One slide in Miola’s presentation asked the question “Who am I sharing risk with?”
Part of the answer for Stone Harbor is other municipalities in the county. From Cape May to Ocean City, management of risk in each of the municipalities has an impact on the others. In many ways the JIF is the most widespread form of local cooperation in the county.
Other Business
Council member Karen Lane reported water conservation efforts had helped the borough rebound from the water losses suffered through the winter months due to leaks in seasonally unoccupied homes.
The borough is below usage levels from one year ago.
Municipal Court
Council member Albert Carusi modified his statements of a month ago, saying that it is still the intention of the borough to retain the services of Avalon Municipal Judge George B. Neidig, Jr. when current Stone Harbor Municipal Court Judge, John Fowler, retires.
However, the arrangement will not be part of a shared services deal with Avalon and will involve Neidig to hold court in both municipalities.
The Public Safety Committee’s earlier hope had been to have the two boroughs share the current Stone Harbor courtroom facility. In a related matter, the borough council renewed the current shared service arrangement with Avalon for a court administrator.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
Villas – Am I the only one? Why do people move to the ocean and then concrete every inch around their house
