HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 43-07 11/20/2007
RESOLUTION 43-07
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTINUATION OF
THE HIGH-LEVEL EXCESS LIABILITY POOL
WHEREAS, the High-Level Excess Liability Pool ("HELP") is a governmental
self-insurance pool, formed pursuant to Article VII 910 of the Illinois Constitution, and
the Illinois Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, 5 ILCS 9220-1 ef seq., and governed
according to an intergovernmental agreement, hereinafter referred to as the "Contract
and By-Laws" (a copy of the contract and by-laws is attached to and made part of this
Resolution);
WHEREAS, as of the end of its current fiscal year ending April 30, 2008, HELP
will have completed its tenth year since the pool was last extended, during which it has
provided collective excess self-insurance for the governmental entities which have been
members of HELP;
WHEREAS, the Village of Mount Prospect is a member of HELP, and its desire is
to continue HELP's existence;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Village of Mount Prospect,
Illinois.
SECTION 1: HELP, of which this governmental body is a member, at the
conclusion of its current fiscal year ending April 30, 2008, shall continue in existence,
under the terms of its Contract and By-Laws for ten years, commencing on May 1,
2008;
SECTION 2: The Contract and By-Laws of HELP shall continue to constitute the
intergovernmental agreement between this governmental body and the other members
of HELP;
SECTION 3: This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage, approval and publication in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law.
AYES:
NAYS:
Corcoran, Hoefert, Juracek, Korn, Lohrstorfer, Zadel
None
ABSENT:
Wil ks
PASSED and APPROVED this ?Oth day of November
,2007.
ATTEST:
'--/?1,~...~ 'Jd)J
M. Lisa Angell (
Village Clerk
P&ge No.
ARTICLE I.
ARTICLE II.
ARTICLE III.
ARTICLE IV.
ARTICLE V.
ARTICLE VI.
ARTICLE VII.
ARTICLE VIII.
ARTICLE IX.
ARTICLE X.
ARTICLE XI.
ARTICLE XII.
ARTICLE XIII.
ARTICLE XIV.
ARTICLE XV.
ARTICLE XVI.
CONTRACT AND BY-LAWS
IDGH-LEVEL EXCESS LIABILITY POOL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Definitions and Purpose. ..................................... 1
Definitions. ............................................... 1
Purpose. .................................................. 3
Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
Participation and Term. ...................................... 8
Commencement and Term of the Agency. ....................... 9
Board of Directors. ......................................... 11
Board of Directors Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Finances and Risk Management Pool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Scope and Amount of Loss Protection. ..........................35
Obligations of Members. ................................ . . . . . 39
Liability of Board of Directors or Officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 44
Additional Coverage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Optional Defense by Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .46
Contractual Obligation. ...................................... 49
Host Member. ............................................. 51
Expulsion of Members. ......................................52
Termination of the Agency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . 55
Drafted by
ANCEL, GLINK, DIAMOND, BUSH,
DICIANNI & ROLEK, P.C.
C:\MYDOCU-\\HELP\BYLAWSOI.TAB \
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CONTRACT AND BY - LAWS OF THE
HIGH-LEVEL EXCESS LIABILITY POOL
ARTICLE I. Definitions and Purpose.
DEFINITIONS:
As used in this agreement, the following terms shall have the
meaning hereinafter set out:
AGENCY - The High-Level Excess Liability Pool (H.E.L.P.)
established pursuant to the Constitution and the statutes of
this State by this intergovernmental agreement.
ANNUAL PAYMENT
The minimum amount a MEMBER shall be
obligated to pay to the AGENCY during a fiscal year.
CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR - A person or group of persons who either
as employees or independent contractors are employed to
administer the claims made against the MEMBERS.
CONVENTIONAL INSURANCE - Insurance coverage which may from
time to time be purchased by or through the AGENCY from an
insurance company approved by the Department of Insurance to
write such coverage in Illinois for risks which the MEMBERS
determine will not be covered or be entirely covered by the
JOINT RISK MANAGEMENT POOL; CONVENTIONAL INSURANCE shall also
include excess insurance and reinsurance.
DEBT INSTRUMENTS - Bonds, letters of credit, loan agreements,
or other documents by which funds are borrowed by the AGENCY
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or by a MEMBER of the AGENCY to fund in whole or in part the
Joint Risk Management Pool.
HOST MEMBER - A MEMBER of the AGENCY which issues or becomes
principally obligated for a debt instrument.
JOINT RISK MANAGEMENT POOL
A fund of public monies
established by the AGENCY to provide risk management services,
administer and jointly self-insure certain claims within an
agreed scope, to purchase conventional insurance where such
coverage is available in reasonable amounts, and where issued,
to repay debt instruments and to pay other costs within the
purposes of the AGENCY; also RISK MANAGEMENT POOL.
JOINT SELF - INSURANCE -
A self-insurance program in which
MEMBERS agree to contribute annual, and where required,
supplementary paYments and other required paYments such as
interest paYments to support the costs of administration, a
risk management program and joint risk management pool.
MEMBERS - Units of local government and joint contractual
agencies composed of units of local government which initially
or later enter into the intergovernmental contract established
by this intergovernmental agreement.
POOL CONTRIBUTION FORMULA - A formula approved by the Board of
Directors which will establish the amount of required annual
paYment to the AGENCY.
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RISK MANAGEMENT - A program attempting to reduce or limit
injuries to persons or property caused by the operations of
MEMBERS.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS - PaYments which may be called for, in
accordance with the Contract and By-Laws, by the Board of
Directors from time-to-time if the amount of the annual
paYment is insufficient to fund the AGENCY.
PURPOSE:
The AGENCY is a cooperative agency voluntarily established by
contracting units of local governments and similar governmental
entities as defined in the Illinois Constitution of 1970 pursuant
to Article VII, Section 10 of the 1970 Constitution of the State of
Illinois, 5 ILCS 220/6 and 745 ILCS 10/1-101, et seq., for the
purpose of seeking the prevention or lessening of liability claims
for injuries to persons or property or claims for errors and
omissions made against the MEMBERS and other parties included
within the scope of coverage of the AGENCY.
It is the intent of the MEMBERS of the AGENCY to create an
enti ty which will administer a Joint Risk Management Pool and
utilize such funds contributed by the MEMBERS to defend and
protect, in accordance with these By-Laws, any MEMBER of the AGENCY
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and other parties against stated liability.
Such By-Laws shall
constitute the substance of a contract among the MEMBERS.
All funds contained within the Risk Management Pool are funds
directly derived from its MEMBERS which are units of local
government or similar governmental entities within the State of
Illinois.
It is the intent of the parties in entering into this
agreement that, to the fullest extent possible, the scope of risk
management undertaken by them through a joint self-insurance
program using governmental funds shall not waive, on behalf of any
local public entity or public employees as defined in the Local
Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, any
defenses or immunities therein provided.
Specifically, the MEMBERS of this AGENCY intend to effect no
waiver of immunities through their contribution of public funds
retained within the risk management pool. Such contributions being
reserves to protect against uninsured risks in accordance with 5
ILCS 220/6, are not intended to constitute the issuance of a policy
for insurance coverage, (by an insurance company authorized by the
Department of Insurance to write such coverage in Illinois). Nor
do the MEMBERS, if permitted by law, intend to waive any immunities
by the purchase of conventional insurance by the AGENCY.
In the event that the AGENCY, either itself or through a HOST
MEMBER, should sell debt instruments, the obligation of the MEMBERS
to repay their proportional share of the retirement of debt
instruments shall continue under whatever repayment schedule is
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contained within the debt instruments.
In addition, by entering
into a contract which will provide some coverage on an occurrence
basis, even if the claim is filed at some time after the expiration
of the term of the AGENCY, but during the period of coverage, the
MEMBERS state and acknowledge their continuing contractual
obligations arising out of occurrences which take place during the
term of this contract.
In creating an excess self-insurance pool, the MEMBERS of this
AGENCY are entering into a type of intergovernmental contract which
has not previously existed in Illinois. In forming such an AGENCY,
the MEMBERS state and acknowledge that the AGENCY has no
responsibili ty for the payment of claims from the Joint Risk
Management Pool for amounts less than the level at which the scope
of coverage of this AGENCY shall from time to time commence or
higher than the level of the self-insured retention of the AGENCY.
The scope of coverage to be provided by the AGENCY is excess
coverage to commence only after the MEMBER or some other party on
behalf of the MEMBER has fully paid the amount of its self-insured
retention.
At the commencement of the term of the AGENCY, the
amount of that retention is $1,000,000, per occurrence. The
AGENCY, always subject to any limit on aggregate payments, shall
not be obligated to expend any funds or pay any claim until the
MEMBER, or some party on behalf of the MEMBER, has paid $1,000,000,
including costs of defense, for each occurrence against which a
claim is made against the assets of the AGENCY.
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ARTICLE II.
Powers.
The powers of the AGENCY to perform and accomplish the
purposes set forth in Article I shall, within the budgetary limits
and procedures set forth in these By-Laws, be the following:
(a) To employ agents, employees and independent contractors,
(b) To lease real property and to purchase or lease
equipment, machinery, or personal property necessary for
the carrying out of the purpose of the AGENCY,
(c) To carry out educational and other programs relating to
risk reductions,
(d) To cause the creation of, see to the collection of funds
for, and administer a joint risk management pool and to
repay debt instruments of the AGENCY, its MEMBERS, or
both,
(e) To purchase conventional insurance or reinsurance to
supplement the joint risk management pool,
(f) To establish reasonable and necessary loss reduction and
prevention procedures which shall be followed by the
MEMBERS. It is the intent of the MEMBERS that the use of
this power shall be exercised with discretion with a goal
of undertaking oversight responsibilities rather than the
direction by the AGENCY of the day-to-day operations of
a MEMBER,
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(g) To provide risk management services, and, where required,
the investigation, defense, litigation, or settlement of
claims,
(h) To admit and expel MEMBERS as provided herein,
(i) Solely within the budgetary limits established by the
MEMBERS to carry out such other activities as are
necessarily implied or required to carry out the purposes
of the AGENCY specified in Article I or the specific
powers enumerated in Article II.
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ARTICLE III. Participation and Term.
All MEMBERS of the AGENCY, except for those whose membership
is terminated in accordance with the expulsion provisions of
Article XV, and such extension of the term as may be made if the
fiscal year of the AGENCY is changed, shall remain MEMBERS of the
AGENCY for a period of ten (10) years after the AGENCY shall have
commenced its operations under the terms of this First Extension.
New MEMBERS, including those units of local government listed
in Appendix A, which do not join at the inception of the AGENCY,
under the terms of this First Extension shall be admitted only by
a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the entire membership of the
Board of Directors and subject to the paYment of such funds and
under such conditions as the Board shall in each case or from time
to time establish, including provisions relating to the paYment of
any funds available after all claims have been paid or provision
has been made for the paYment of all claims.
MEMBERS of the AGENCY, which were not MEMBERS on July I, 1997,
shall receive no coverage for periods of time prior to their
membership. The obligation of such MEMBERS to make supplementary
payments shall, however, be the same as the obligation of the
MEMBERS of the AGENCY on that date.
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ARTICLE IV. Commencement and Term of the Agency.
The First Extension of the Contract and By-Laws of the AGENCY
calling for its continuing existence shall be in full force and
effect on May 1, 1998, if by July 1, 1997, all of the MEMBERS whose
names appear upon Appendix A, attached to and made part of this
contract, have, through an ordinance or resolution, of their
corporate authorities, authorized the execution of this First
Extension.
Evidence that such actions have been taken shall be
transmitted to:
Daniel Wiersma
Secretary, HELP Pool
City of Wheaton
303 West Wesley Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
who shall inform the MEMBERS if the action necessary to cause the
adoption of this First Extension have taken place prior to the date
by which such action must be taken. In the event that all MEMBERS
execute the First Extension, they shall be permitted to merge funds
from the prior term of the AGENCY subject to any limitation in the
amount of coverage for MEMBERS which have had claims paid by the
AGENCY.
Such limitation, however, shall not limit the aggregate
payment to the MEMBERS during the First Extension to less than Five
Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). The utilization of funds for the
payment of claims arising from the First Extension of the AGENCY
shall not, however, diminish the obligations of the MEMBERS of the
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AGENCY for any financial obligations arising out of membership in
the initial eleven-year term.
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ARTICLE V. Board of Directors.
(a) There is hereby established a Board of Directors of the
AGENCY.
Each MEMBER shall appoint one (1) person to
represent that body on the Board of Directors along with
another person to serve as an alternate representative
when the initial representative is unable to carry out
that representative I s duties.
The representative and
alternate shall be appointed in the same manner as other
appointive officers are selected when no specific method
for such office is established by statute.
Once such
appointments are made known to the AGENCY the persons
appointed shall remain in office until the AGENCY
receives evidence of the appointment of other persons.
The AGENCY shall be the judge of the proper appointment
of representatives and alternates to the Board of
Directors and shall utilize in case of dispute general
principles of Illinois law.
The representati ve and
alternate selected need not be elected officials of the
MEMBER.
It is anticipated, but not required, that
persons chosen to serve on the Board will have
responsibilities within their MEMBER community for some
management duties relating to the AGENCY.
The Board of Directors shall select from among the
representatives a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and
Treasurer. In the fiscal year of the AGENCY, commencing
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on May 1, 1998, these persons in office on April 30,
1998, shall serve for an additional fiscal year.
Thereafter, they will be selected during the final
quarter of the appropriate fiscal year to serve two-year
terms commencing at the start of the next fiscal year or
until the termination of the AGENCY. No person may serve
as Chairman of the Board of Directors for more than two
(2) consecutive full two-year terms. The Chairman shall
be the chief executive officer of the AGENCY. The
Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board and
the Executive Committee at which the Chairman is present.
The Chairman may request information from any officer of
the Board or the AGENCY or any employee or independent
contractor of the AGENCY. The Chairman shall vote on all
matters that come before the Board or Committees on which
the Chairman serves. The Chairman shall be a non-voting
ex-officio member of all committees of the AGENCY on
which the Chairman does not directly serve. The Chairman
shall have such other powers as are set forth in these
By-Laws and such other powers as he may be given from
time to time by action of the Board.
The Vice Chairman shall carry out all duties of the
Chairman of the Board during the absence or inability of
the Chairman to perform such duties and shall carry out
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such other functions as are assigned from time to time by
the Chairman or the Board of Directors.
The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and
be responsible for all funds and securities of the
AGENCY; receive and give all receipts for moneys due and
payable to the AGENCY from any source whatsoever; deposit
all such moneys in the name of the AGENCY in such banks,
savings and loan associations or other depositories as
shall be selected by the Board of Directors; invest the
funds of the AGENCY as are not immediately required in
such investments as the Board of Directors shall
specifically or generally select from time to time; and
maintain the financial books and records of the AGENCY.
Provided, however, that all investments of AGENCY funds
shall be made only in the manner permitted to an Illinois
home rule community, or to a governmental self-insurance
pool. The Treasurer shall, in general, perform all the
duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned by him by the
Board of Directors.
The Secretary shall keep the official records of the
AGENCY. The Secretary shall see to the keeping of the
minutes of meetings of the AGENCY and shall retain past
financial records of the AGENCY. The Secretary shall see
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to the sending of all notices required by these By-Laws
and shall carry out other clerical duties of the AGENCY.
The AGENCY shall purchase a bond in the cumulative
amount of at least $1,000,000.00 to assure the fidelity
of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board, the
Treasurer and any other officer, committee member, or
employee who shall have the right to authorize the
transfer or payment of AGENCY funds.
Without amending
these By-Laws, the Board of Directors, by motion, may
increase the amount of the bonds or the persons covered.
The Board may select a financial institution to
carry out some or all of the functions which would
otherwise be assigned to a Treasurer and may select a
risk management company or agent to serve as claims
administrator.
The Board may also employ persons or
companies as independent contractors to carry out some of
the functions of officers of the AGENCY. The Board of
Directors may from time to time establish other officers
of the Board and may elect a representative on the Board
to serve in any of such offices. The Board shall fill
any vacancies which may occur in any offices for the
remainder of the term.
(b) The Board of Directors shall determine the general policy
of the AGENCY which policy shall be followed by the
AGENCY officers, agents, employees and independent
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contractors employed by the AGENCY. Among other items it
shall have the responsibility for (1) Hiring of AGENCY
officers, agents, employees and independent contractors;
(2) Setting of compensation for all persons, firms and
corporations employed by the AGENCY; (3) Setting of
fidelity bonding requirements for officers, employees or
other persons; (4) Approval of amendments to the By-Laws;
(5) Approval of the acceptance of new MEMBERS and
expulsion of MEMBERS; (6) Approval and amendment of the
annual budget of the AGENCY; (7) Establishment and
amendment of the scope and amount of pooled self-
insurance coverage offered by the AGENCY; (8) Resolution
of disputes over the scope of pooled self-insurance
coverage provided by the AGENCY;
(9) Approval of
educational and other programs relating to risk
reduction; (10) Approval of reasonable and necessary loss
reduction and prevention procedures which shall be
followed by all MEMBERS; (11) Purchase of conventional
insurance; (12) Authorization to a host MEMBER to issue
debt instruments when all other contractual prerequisites
for such issuance have been effected; (13); Approval of
annual and supplementary payments to the Risk Management
Pool for each MEMBER; (14) Approval of rules and
regulations regarding the payout of funds from the Risk
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Management Pool as shall from time to time seem
appropriate.
(c) Each MEMBER shall be entitled to one (1) vote on the
Board of Directors. Such vote may be cast only by the
designated representative of the MEMBER or in the
representative's absence, by an alternate selected by the
MEMBER in the same manner as specified for the selection
of the principal representative.
No proxy votes or
absentee votes shall be permitted.
Voting shall be
conducted by voice vote unless one (1) or more MEMBERS of
the Board of Directors shall request a roll call vote;
provided, however, that:
1. Any vote which requires a greater than
maj ori ty vote for passage shall be by roll
call vote, and
2. Any member of the Board who abstains or casts
a vote in a minority position on a matter upon
which a voice vote is taken may have that vote
specifically recorded in the minutes by
indicating such desire to the presiding
officer.
(d) The representative selected by the MEMBER shall serve
until a successor has been selected. The representative
chosen by the MEMBER may be removed in the same manner as
other appointive officers within the MEMBER.
In the
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event that a vacancy occurs in the representative or
alternate representative selected by the Corporate
Authorities of a MEMBER, that body shall appoint a
successor.
The failure of a MEMBER to select a
representative or the failure of that person to
participate shall not affect the responsibilities or
duties of a MEMBER under this Contract.
(e) The Board of Directors shall have the power to establish
both standing and ad hoc committees. The committees of
the AGENCY may, among other titles and functions,
include:
Finance, Risk Management, Claims Review and
Membership and Revenue.
The Chairman of the Board may
also establish ad hoc committees which do not conflict
with those established by the Board. Unless the Board of
Directors shall establish some other procedure, the
selection of members of the Board of Directors who shall
serve on such committees and chair them shall reside with
the Chairman of the Board of Directors, but such
decisions shall be confirmed by the Board. The Chairman
may make interim appointments to fill vacancies which
occur between Board meetings.
The Board of Directors may assign to a committee the
authority to authorize the expenditure of funds for
administrative expenses, but the settlement of claims or
suits to be paid from the joint risk management pool
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shall be decided by the Board of Directors, except as the
Board shall specifically assign in whole or in part such
function to a person or committee.
(f) The Board of Directors shall create an Executive
Committee. That Executive Committee shall at a minimum
consist of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board,
the Treasurer, the Secretary, the representative or
alternate of any host MEMBERS, and the Chairman of the
other standing committees of the AGENCY along with other
persons.
The
Executive
Committee
shall
make
recommendations to the Board and shall undertake other
functions as the Board shall assign.
(g) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the MEMBERS of
the Board of Directors. Except as provided in Subsection
(h), herein, or elsewhere in these By-Laws, a simple
majority of a quorum shall be sufficient to pass upon all
matters.
(h) A greater vote than a majority of a quorum shall be
required to approve the following matters:
(i) Such matters as the Board of Directors shall
establish within its rules as requiring for passage
a vote greater than a majority of a quorum,
provided, however, that such a rule can only be
established by a greater than a majority vote at
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least equal to the greater than majority percentage
within the proposed rule.
(ii) The approval of the paYment of the settlement of
claims from the joint risk management pool shall
require the concurrence of a majority of the entire
membership of the Board of Directors.
By such a
vote, the Board of Directors may also establish
procedures whereby, in cases where a rapid decision
on the terms of a prospective settlement must be
made, a committee or person may approve settlements
in an amount higher than that previously authorized
by the Board, subject to limitations established by
the Board.
(iii) The admission of a new MEMBER and the expulsion of
a MEMBER shall require at least the concurrence of
two-thirds (2/3) of the entire membership of the
Board of Directors.
(iv) The purchase of any form of conventional insurance
shall require at least the concurrence of two-
thirds (2/3) of the entire membership of the Board
of Directors.
(v) Any amendment of these By-Laws except as provided
in Subsection (vi) below, shall require at least
the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of the entire
membership of the Board of Directors.
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A-2
(vi) The amendment of these By-Laws to cause the
termination of this agreement sooner than ten (10)
years after its commencement but only if any debt
instruments issued have been entirely paid or
provision has been made for their payment, or the
amendment of these By-Laws to cause a modification
of more or less than the high or low range of the
debit-credit formula, as provided for in Article
VII(j), or the modification of the scope or amount
of coverage of the AGENCY and the authorization to
a host MEMBER which has specifically agreed by
resolution of its corporate authorities to obligate
itself to execute a debt instrument shall require
that specific written notice of the proposed change
be sent by registered or certified mail return
receipt requested to the regular representative of
the MEMBER on the Board of Directors, no less than
ten (10) days prior to a meeting at which this
matter is proposed and that the amendment as
proposed or as amended at a Board meeting shall
require concurrence of at least two-thirds (2/3) of
the entire membership of the Board of Directors.
(i) No one serving on the Board of Directors shall receive
any salary or other payment from the AGENCY. Any salary,
compensation,
for
such
payment
or
expenses
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representative, shall be paid by each MEMBER separate
from this Contract. Provided, however, that the Chairman
of the Board, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary and
such other Board officers as are given by the Board of
Directors a right to reimbursement may submit to the
Board of Directors for its approval claims for
reimbursement of expenses incurred in the pursuit of
their positions as officers of the AGENCY. The
reimbursement for such expenses shall include amounts
advanced on behalf of the AGENCY either by the officer
himself or by a MEMBER of the AGENCY. A host MEMBER may
be compensated for agreeing to issue or issuing a debt
instrument, be reimbursed for expenses or be granted
credits for sums otherwise due the AGENCY.
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ARTICLE VI. Board of Directors Meetings.
(a) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held
at least three (3) times a year. The dates of regular
meetings of the Board shall be established at the
beginning of each fiscal year. Any item of business may
be considered at a regular meeting. A special meeting
may be held any time after all of the MEMBERS have
approved this First Extension upon not less than seven
(7) days' written notice from any three (3) MEMBERS.
At least one (1) meeting must be held during the
first half of the fiscal year. Special meetings of the
Board of Directors may be called by its Chairman, or by
representatives of any three (3) MEMBERS. Ten (10) days'
written notice of regular or special meetings shall be
given to the official representatives of each MEMBER
government and an agenda specifying the subject of any
special meeting shall accompany such notice.
Business
conducted at special meetings shall be limited to those
items specified in the agenda. Provided, however, that
where it is necessary to call an emergency meeting of the
Board to authorize the payment of the settlement of a
claim or claims or other matter requiring rapid
attention, such a meeting may be called by delivered
written or telephonic notice of no less than 24 hours.
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(b) The time, date and location of regular and special
meetings of the Board of Directors shall be determined by
the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the
convening authority.
(c) To the extent not contrary to these By-Laws, and except
as modified by the Board of Directors, Roberts Rules of
Order, latest edition, shall govern all meetings of the
Board of Directors.
(d) Minutes of all regular and special meetings of the Board
of Directors shall be sent to all Members and alternate
members of the Board of Directors within twenty (20) days
after each meeting. The Board shall subsequently vote on
the approval of the minutes.
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ARTICLE VII.
Finances and Risk Management Pool.
(a) The fiscal year of the AGENCY shall commence on May 1 and
shall be for a twelve (12) month period except that the
Board may change the date of the commencement of the
fiscal year.
In the event that the Board chooses to
change the fiscal year of the AGENCY, the term of this
contract shall be extended for the number of months
necessary to accommodate the new fiscal year.
(b) The Board of Directors shall approve a preliminary budget
for the administration of the AGENCY for each forthcoming
year during the final quarter of the prior fiscal year.
Copies of all preliminary and final budgets shall be
promptly mailed to each MEMBER of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall, before the end of the year
prior to the start of each fiscal year, approve a final
budget, the pool contribution formula, and the amount of
annual payments due from each MEMBER, including, where
applicable, a debit and credit calculation for each
MEMBER and the date upon which the payment is due.
Provided, however, in the first year of operations under
the First Extension, the annual paYment and budget shall
be approved by the Board of Directors during the final
quarter of the prior fiscal year.
Failure to approve a preliminary or final budget
within the times set forth within this Section shall not
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relieve the MEMBERS of the obligation to make annual or
supplementary paYments to the AGENCY so long as such
budgets are finally adopted, and the MEMBERS are given at
least thirty (30) days after the passage of the final
budget or the determination of amounts due in which to
make paYments to the AGENCY.
Where the proceeds of a
debt instrument have been received, the obligation of
MEMBERS to repay that debt shall not be dependent upon
the approval of a budget. Budgets may be amended at any
time by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
(c) Calls for supplementary paYments shall be made by the
Board of Directors.
Supplementary paYffients shall be
called for where required in order that the scope and
amount of coverage of the AGENCY can be provided to all
MEMBERS. The Board shall, where necessary, make calls
for supplementary paYments from MEMBERS, including
expelled MEMBERS, claims which occurred during the time
of their membership. Provided, that in any year in which
the scope of coverage is provided on a "claims made"
basis, supplementary paYments may only be used to pay and
administer claims made during the subject year or such
later period as assumed by the AGENCY or specified in a
conventional insurance policy purchased by the AGENCY.
The forwarding of annual and supplementary paYments
within a time specified in notices to the MEMBERS giving
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~--
them not less than thirty (30) days to make such
payments I shall be of the essence of this contract.
Supplementary payments shall only be required by the
Board of Directors in a situation in which there is a
reasonable concern that the sum remaining from the annual
payment or prior supplementary payments will not be
sufficient to meet the responsibilities of the AGENCY.
MEMBERS shall be responsible for supplementary payments
during the entire life of the AGENCY and any later period
when claims or expenses need be paid which are
attributable to the year of membership when the event out
of which the expense or claim occurred or for "claims
made" coverage during that claim year or such later
period assumed by the AGENCY or specified in a
conventional policy. The Board of Directors may permit
annual or supplementary payments to be made on a monthly
or quarterly basis. Each MEMBER shall make supplementary
payments in an amount that shall be based upon the amount
that its annual payments and equity payments bear to the
annual payments and equity payments bear to the annual
payments and equity payments of other MEMBERS. If
additional supplementary payments are required to pay a
claim for which earlier supplementary payments have been
made I the proportional share of each MEMBER shall be
recomputed to include the appropriate proportional figure
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for annual payments made in any subsequent fiscal years
for which figures are then available.
(d) Each MEMBER shall have prepared and submit to the AGENCY
an annual audited statement of all revenues prepared by
a certified public accountant on a G.A.A.P. basis. For
the purpose of computing amounts due for participation in
the AGENCY, revenues shall be classified by fund type as
follows:
General Fund:
Included:
1). taxation of all types; real estate, sales,
utility, income tax etc.
2). license and permit fees
3). intergovernmental revenue
4). fines and forfeitures
5). interest earnings
6). fees charges or service
7). franchise revenues
Excluded:
1). refunds
2). interfund transfers
3). installment contract proceeds
4). income from joint ventures
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Special Revenue Funds
Included:
1). taxation of all types
2). intergovernmental revenue
3). interest earnings
4). grant funds
Excluded:
1). interfund transfers
2) refunds
3) installment contract proceeds
4) income from joint ventures
Debt Service Funds
Excluded:
1). bond proceeds
Special Assessment/Special Service District Funds
Included:
1). taxation of all types
2). interest earnings
Excluded:
1). proceeds from new debt where proceeds are to
be used to retire existing debt
2). interfund transfers
3). bond proceeds
4). installment contract proceeds
Capital Project Funds
Included:
1). taxation of all types
2). interest earnings
3). developer contributions
4). grant funds
Excluded:
1) interfund transfers
2) bond proceeds
3) installment contract proceeds
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Enterprise Funds
Included:
1). all sales
2). license and permit fees
3). service charges
4). interest earnings
5). taxation
6). grant funds
Excluded:
1). interfund transfers
2). revenues collected while acting as an agent
for another governmental body where amounts
collected are passed through
3). bond proceeds
4). installment contract proceeds
5). income from joint ventures
Internal Service Funds - Excluded
Trust and Agency funds - Excluded
General Exclusion
All revenues associated with a specifically excluded risk
or activity will not be included for the calculation of
premiums.
Revenues shall be computed using the figures shown in the
annual audit statement of the MEMBER for the last fiscal
year available on the date at which the audits are due.
In the event a current audited financial statement is not
available, or, if available, does not present revenues in
the manner required, the Board of Directors shall
estimate the revenues of the MEMBER based upon the best
figures then available. The decision of the Board shall
be final.
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(e) The Board of Directors shall in subsequent years after
reviewing the audit submitted from each MEMBER establish
a tentative computation of the revenues of each MEMBER.
Written notice of this tentative determination sha~l be
sent to each MEMBER. If a MEMBER wishes to contest the
determination of the amounts, it may request a hearing
before the Board of Directors. The decision by the Board
after such hearing shall be final unless the Board shall
be found by a court to have committed a clear abuse of
discretion.
(f) During the final quarter of each fiscal year, the Board
of Directors shall establish the pool contribution
formula which will be used in determining the annual
payments due from each MEMBER for the next succeeding
fiscal year.
The four factors which will be equally
weighted in creating the formula are:
Revenues, as
defined in Article VII (d) , Miles of Streets, Full-Time
Equivalent Employees and the Total Number of State
Licensed Vehicles and fire vehicles.
MEMBERS shall be
required to provide information to the AGENCY which will
allow the Board of Directors to quantify each of these
four factors. All questions relating to the computation
of these four factors will be resolved by the Board of
Directors and will be applied equally to all MEMBERS.
The assessment of supplementary payments, whenever
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required to be paid, will be based upon the same
proportion which the payment of one MEMBER bears to the
payment of another MEMBER in the annual payment, except
where the Board of Directors should modify that
proportion based upon an error in the information
reported or an error in computation. In the event that
for any reason the proportional payments due from a
MEMBER shall be adjusted, the amounts due from other
MEMBERS shall likewise be subject to adjustment but the
implementation of the adjustment may be delayed until the
funds are needed.
(g) If all claims known or unknown within the scope of
coverage provided by the AGENCY, plus any other amounts
owed by the AGENCY during any particular period for which
funds of the AGENCY were combined to create the joint
risk management pool, have either been paid or provision
has been made for such payment, the Board of Directors as
then constituted shall distribute any surplus funds to
the MEMBERS which constituted the membership of the Pool
during that period after first deducting therefrom
reasonable administrative and other non-allocated costs
incurred by the AGENCY in the processing of the claims in
years other than the period for which the claim was made.
The distribution among the MEMBERS shall be in the same
proportion to the total as their payments during the
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period bore to the payments of all MEMBERS less any sums
owed the AGENCY.
Provided, however, that a MEMBER may
elect to transfer such excess funds to the Joint Risk
Management Pool for any later or prior period for which
it owes or will owe funds to the AGENCY. MEMBERS shall
remain obligated for all payments due the AGENCY under
this Contract and By-Laws if it should be determined even
after the payment of any rebate that additional sums are
necessary to fulfill the contractual obligations agreed
to herein.
Such obligation shall continue so long as
there are claims made against the AGENCY for injuries
that fall within the scope of coverage provided by the
AGENCY for the period in question.
(h) The Board of Directors shall provide to the MEMBERS an
annual audit of the financial affairs of the AGENCY to be
made by a certified public accountant at the end of each
fiscal year in accordance with the generally accepted
auditing principles.
The annual report shall be
delivered to each MEMBER within 180 days after the close
of the prior fiscal year.
(i) The Board of Directors may require reports from all
agents and independent contractors including attorneys
with regard to the status of their work for the AGENCY,
problems encountered during the performance of their
duties, and recommendations for improvements in the
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performance of the AGENCY including their efforts on the
AGENCY.S behalf.
(j) The Board of Directors may apply to the annual and
supplementary paYffients due from a MEMBER a debit or
credit computed in a manner determined by the Board of
Directors which shall affect the paYffient due from the
MEMBER to the extent that the number and the amount of
reserved claims and losses attributable to that MEMBER in
no more than three prior years , in amounts of at least
$10,000.00, shall compare with the general frequency and
amount of similar claims and losses attributable to
MEMBERS of the AGENCY in proportion to the level of their
paYffients to the AGENCY in relationship to all paYments
made to the AGENCY.
In developing a debit-credit
formula, the AGENCY may also consider the existence and
effectiveness o~ the loss prevention programs put in
place by the MEMBERS. All adjustments shall not result
in a credit of more than 25% nor a debit of more than 25%
from the average. The Board of Directors shall approve
the debit or credit formulation either directly or in the
approval of the adj usted annual paYment due from the
MEMBERS. Provided, however, that the Board of Directors
shall, for each year of the existence of the AGENCY
provide a sum in the joint risk management pool which,
after the debit or credit adjustment has been made, shall
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be in a gross amount sufficient to pay for the
anticipated total costs required to fully fund the
operations of the AGENCY.
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ARTICLE VIII. Scope and Amount of Loss Protection.
Scope of coverage and the amount of coverage to be provided by
the AGENCY shall be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors. The AGENCY may modify both the scope of coverage and
the amount of coverage, both upward and downward, provided,
however, that any modifications shall only apply prospectively.
,-1 The Scope of Coverage Document may provide for the manner in which
the scope and amount of coverage offered by the AGENCY shall be
coordinated with CONVENTIONAL INSURANCE and with any other coverage
which a MEMBER or other covered entity shall possess.
No indemnification shall be provided by the AGENCY until the
MEMBER has expended $1,000,000 in loss paYments as a result of the
occurrence. Defense costs shall be included toward satisfying both
the loss paYment by the MEMBER and the coverage provided by the
AGENCY.
Coverage, other than errors and omissions coverage, is
provided by the AGENCY only for those occurrences which occur
during the fiscal year for which the MEMBER has made an ANNUAL
PAYMENT and all required SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS and for which
written notice is given to the AGENCY within ten (10) years
subsequent to the date of occurrence.
Where an occurrence is
continuous and involves more than one such fiscal year, coverage is
provided only to the extent of the coverage amounts in effect, as
regards the MEMBER, during the fiscal year in which the occurrence
began.
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Errors and omissions coverage is provided by the AGENCY only
for those occurrences which take place subsequent to the first day
of membership in the AGENCY by the MEMBER and for which written
notice is first given to the AGENCY during a fiscal year for which
the MEMBER has made an ANNUAL PAYMENT and all required
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS.
Aggregate limits placing a total cap on payments which may be
made to or on behalf of a MEMBER shall be established for the
initial term of the AGENCY and this First Extension.
Provided,
however, that the per-occurrence or aggregate limits for MEMBERS
during the initial term or during this First Extension shall not be
less for each term than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000). The
fulfillment of the payment of aggregate limits may only be made
from payments received both from the self-insured retention funds
of the AGENCY and will not be reached by payments from conventional
insurance.
At the commencement of the term of this First Extension, the
amount of money which a MEMBER must pay before the obligation of
the AGENCY will commence is a self-insured retention by the MEMBER
of $1,000,000 per occurrence.
Under no circumstances shall the
obligation of this AGENCY commence until a MEMBER has paid for that
occurrence the amount of the self-insured retention established by
the AGENCY from time to time. The MEMBERS of the AGENCY are aware
of a limited number of cases in the United States in which
insurance companies purporting to offer coverage excess of a
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deductible or a self-insured retention amount have been compelled
by courts to commence the level of their coverage at lower levels.
By entering into this contract, each MEMBER acknowledges that it is
the absolute understanding of the MEMBERS of this AGENCY that under
no circumstances shall the AGENCY be compelled to make any paYments
until a MEMBER has fulfilled the full responsibility of paying the
total amount of the self-insured retention. Nor shall the AGENCY,
under any circumstances, be obligated for paYments in excess of the
maximum per occurrence or aggregate amounts established from time-
to-time which are to be paid from the self-insured retention of the
AGENCY. Because of the right of each MEMBER to participate in the
decisions reached by the AGENCY, and because of the uncertain
results which may occur in claims seeking large paYments, no claim
of a bad faith failure to settle shall be made against the AGENCY
in the absence of fraud.
MEMBERS may fund the amount of the self-insured retention
through reserve funds, conventional insurance, membership in pools,
the issuance of judgment funding bonds or other methods. The
method by which a MEMBER of the AGENCY fulfills its responsibility
to fund the self-insured retention is a matter of no consequence to
this AGENCY.
This AGENCY intends to offer a scope of coverage
which will commence only in excess of the self-insured retention.
The extent of intergovernmental cooperation or contractual
obligation of the MEMBERS to fund the AGENCY does not extend
whatever to any primary coverage or obligations below the amount of
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the self-insured retention. The MEMBERS of the AGENCY would not
have entered into this Contract and By-Laws if any MEMBER
understood the obligation of the AGENCY to its MEMBERS to extend in
any manner below the level of the self-insured retention or above
the level of self-insured retention coverage established. The
AGENCY, however, may, from time-to-time, fund a part of its self-
insured retention through the purchase of conventional insurance
and may offer coverage which, in each case, will be payable only
from conventional insurance in amounts in excess of its self-
insured retention.
The Board of Directors shall, by a vote of at least the
concurrence of a majority of the entire membership of the Board of
Directors, from time-to-time approve a specific text of the scope
of coverage offered in the manner provided in Article V(h) (vi). In
the event that there should be a conflict between the text of the
scope of coverage document and the Contract and By-Laws, this later
document shall prevail. The AGENCY may from time to time expand
the scope or amount of coverage to be provided, which expansion may
be extended to the paYment of claims which occurred prior to the
date of the expansion. In the event that the AGENCY should reduce
or modify the amount or scope of coverage to be provided, such
reduction shall only apply to claims which occurred subsequent to
the date of the modification.
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ARTICLE IX. Obligations of Members.
The obligations of MEMBERS of the AGENCY shall be as follows:
(a) To appropriate, budget for, where necessary to levy for
and to promptly pay all annual and supplementary or other
paYments to the AGENCY at such times and in such amounts
as shall be established by the Board of Directors within
the scope of this agreement.
MEMBERS shall also be
required to pay their proportional share of the repayment
of principal and interest obligations and other costs
incurred by a host MEMBER in obligating itself under a
debt instrument. The proportional share of each MEMBER
shall be that proportion its annual paYment for that
fiscal year bears to the annual paYments of the other
MEMBERS. Any delinquent paYments shall be paid with a
penalty which shall be equal to the highest interest rate
allowed by statute to be paid by an Illinois home rule
municipality or the prime rate then in effect at the
First National Bank of Chicago, or, in the event that
such bank is no longer in existence, then the prime rate
in effect at that bank, with its principal office in
Illinois, with the largest assets, whichever rate is
lower.
(b) To select a person to serve on the Board of Directors and
to select an alternate representative.
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(c) To allow the AGENCY reasonable access to all facilities
of the MEMBER and all records relating to claims and the
financial obligations of a MEMBER.
(d) To provide the Pool the right and give it the opportunity
to associate with the MEMBER or any conventional
insurance carrier providing coverage to the MEMBER, or
both, in the defense and control of any claim, suit or
proceeding which involves or may involve the Pool and in
which event the MEMBER, such insurers and the Pool shall
cooperate in all things in defense of such claim, suit or
proceeding.
(e) To furnish full cooperation with the AGENCY'S attorneys,
claims administrator and any agent, employee, officer or
independent contractor of the AGENCY relating to the
purpose and powers of the AGENCY.
(f) To follow in its operations all loss reduction and
prevention procedures established by the AGENCY within
its purpose and powers, including, but not limited to the
use of release forms, posting of notice, participation in
educational and record-keeping programs, limitations in
activities offered, and the use of loss preventative
techniques and devices.
(g) To furnish to the AGENCY an audit prepared by a Certified
Public Accountant of all revenues of the MEMBER for any
fiscal year of the MEMBER for which figures are requested
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by the AGENCY. If an audit is not furnished, the AGENCY
may employ an auditor to perform such an audit and the
MEMBER shall be required to pay the reasonable cost of
such audit.
(h) To report to the Secretary of the AGENCY and the claims
administrator, at the earliest practicable moment, any
information of a claim received by the MEMBER and from
which the MEMBER could reasonably conclude that coverage
from the AGENCY will be sought.
In the event that the
required information is not submitted to the Secretary
and claims administrator within the time periods set
forth above, the Board of Directors of the AGENCY, may in
whole or in part decline to provide a defense to the
MEMBER or to extend the funds of the AGENCY for the
paYment of losses or damages incurred. In reaching its
decision, the Board shall consider whether and to what
extent the AGENCY was prejudiced in its ability to
investigate, defend or earlier settle the claim due to
the failure of the MEMBER to promptly furnish notice of
the claim to the Secretary. In the absence of a fraud or
a clear abuse of discretion, the decision of the Board of
Directors shall be final. Information must be furnished
to the AGENCY not only at the time that a claim is made
which could reasonably be expected to be within the scope
of coverage of the AGENCY, but also updated information
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must be provided as the nature of the claim becomes more
fully known and litigation occurs and proceeds.
Information must also be furnished if a claim reasonably
thought to be below the level of the amount of coverage
provided by the AGENCY should approach or be asserted by
the claimant to fall within the amount of coverages.
(i) To either employ a professional claims administration
firm to handle all self-insured claims, enter into an
insurance contract (for claims at lower levels of
coverage than those provided for by the AGENCY) which
includes an obligation of that insurance company to
furnish information to the AGENCY of pending claims or,
if the MEMBER performs claims administration utilizing
its own personnel, the obligation to employ a firm to
perform claims auditing. The claims auditing firm will
be chosen by the AGENCY and the reasonable cost of such
audit will be borne by the MEMBER.
(j) In the event that the AGENCY shall be required to expend
funds for administrative, legal or other costs brought
about by the failure of a MEMBER to pay sums owed the
AGENCY or to take other actions required under this
Contract and By-laws, such amounts expended shall be
added to the sums due the AGENCY and shall be payable by
the MEMBER.
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(k) To fully cooperate to allow the AGENCY to subrogate any
amounts the AGENCY has paid from entities against which
the MEMBER has any claim. Amounts which the AGENCY is
able to recover through subrogation shall, after the
paYment of expenses, be credited against claims paid on
behalf of a MEMBER so as to restore the amount of
coverage which has been charged against that MEMBER's
aggregate limit.
(1) To the extent that the coverage provided by the AGENCY
should extend to officers or employees of the MEMBER or
others,
those entities shall be responsible for
fulfilling all of the obligations of the MEMBER as it
shall apply to that claim.
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ARTICLE X. Liability of Board of Directors or Officers.
The members of the Board of Directors or officers of the
AGENCY should use ordinary care and reasonable diligence in the
exercise of their power and in the performance of their duties
hereunder; they shall not be liable for any mistake of judgment or
other action made, taken or omitted by them in good faith; nor for
any action taken or omitted by any agent, employee or independent
contractor selected with reasonable care; nor for loss incurred
through investment of AGENCY funds, or failure to invest. No
Director shall be liable for any action taken or omitted by any
other Director. No Director shall be required to give a bond or
other security to guarantee the faithful performance of the
Director's duties hereunder.
The Board of Directors shall
authorize, if necessary, the use of the joint risk management pool
to defend and hold harmless any Director or officer for actions
taken by the Board or performed by the Director or officer within
the scope of his authority for the AGENCY. The AGENCY may purchase
conventional insurance providing similar coverage for such
Directors and officers and if such coverage has been purchased
shall require that the coverage of the insurance company shall be
relied upon before utilizing the funds of the joint risk management
pool to provide a defense or make a settlement.
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ARTICLE XI. Additional Coverage.
Membership in the AGENCY shall not preclude any MEMBER from
purchasing any insurance coverage above those amounts purchased by
the AGENCY.
The AGENCY shall make its facilities available to
advise MEMBERS of the types of additional or different coverages
available to units of local government.
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ARTICLE XII. Optional Defense by Member.
The scope of coverage provided by this AGENCY shall only
commence at such point that the MEMBER has made a good faith offer
to settle the claim at a level within the self-insured retention of
the MEMBER and that offer has been rejected. Where the scope of
coverage of the AGENCY is activated, the MEMBER, through the
procedure set out in this article, shall have an opportunity to
object to a settlement whenever the AGENCY proposes to settle any
pending claim or suit. The MEMBER shall be given advance notice of
any proposed settlement.
Such notice may be given by the
establishment of a reserve amount in documents provided to the
MEMBER by or through the AGENCY, provided that the amount of the
settlement does not exceed the amount reserved. The officers and
employees of the AGENCY shall, however, endeavor to give specific
oral or written notice to a MEMBER of the exact amount of any
proposed settlement at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date
at which the AGENCY proposes to bind itself to pay such settlement
amount.
It is recognized by the MEMBERS that under some
circumstances the AGENCY may not be able to give fourteen (14)
days' prior oral or written notice of the proposed settlement. The
officers, employees or independent contractors of the AGENCY shall
attempt to give the MEMBERS as much notice of the settlement as is
possible under the circumstances of each case.
If a MEMBER should disagree with the amount for which the
AGENCY proposes to settle a case or claim, the representative of
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the MEMBER on the Board of Directors of the AGENCY, the alternate
member, the local governmental attorney or the chief administrative
officer of the MEMBER may notify the claims administrator of the
AGENCY that the MEMBER exercises its right to prevent the AGENCY
from reaching a settlement at the agreed-upon amount. The claims
administrator may require that such information be transmitted in
writing.
In the event that the case or claim is eventually resolved
through a settlement or judgment within the dollar limits of
coverage provided by the AGENCY and in an amount less than the
amount at which the case could have been previously settled by the
AGENCY, then the MEMBER which has undertaken the costs of its
defense shall be entitled to its additional actual costs including
reasonable attorneys' fees, up to the level at which its costs and
the prior allocated costs of the AGENCY, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, equal the amount at which the case could have been
settled by the AGENCY. To the extent that the case or claim is
resolved through settlement or judgment at an amount greater than
that at which the case or claim could have been previously settled
by the AGENCY and a claim is thereby made within the dollar limits
of coverage provided by the AGENCY, the MEMBER shall be obligated
for that portion of the settlement or judgment which exceeds the
sum of money at which the case could have been earlier settled by
the AGENCY including all allocated costs of the AGENCY. If at any
time the amount of the allocated costs of the AGENCY devoted to the
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case shall equal or exceed the amount at which the case could have
been settled and the AGENCY is providing a defense, the AGENCY may
require periodic supplementary paYments from the MEMBER if the
MEMBER wishes to have the AGENCY continue to provide the defense.
Allocated costs shall mean those costs which are allocated to
individual cases under the bookkeeping and accounting system
utilized by the AGENCY.
The AGENCY may establish the amount at
which it could have settled the case through a written settlement
offer by the plaintiff or through other competent evidence of the
availability of the settlement at a particular sum and the desire
of the MEMBER to preclude settlement discussions and the sum at
which the AGENCY believed the case could have been settled.
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ARTICLE XIII. Contractual Obligation.
This document shall constitute a contract among those entities
which become MEMBERS of the AGENCY.
The obligations and
responsibilities of the MEMBERS set forth herein, including the
obligation to take no action inconsistent with these By-Laws as
originally written or validly amended shall remain a continuing
obligation and responsibility of each MEMBER.
The terms of this
Contract may be enforced in a court of law by the AGENCY or any of
its MEMBERS.
The consideration for the duties herewith imposed upon the
MEMBERS to take certain actions and to refrain from certain other
actions is based upon the mutual promises and agreements of the
MEMBERS set forth herein.
If any dispute arises regarding this
Contract, the MEMBERS agree that a court shall interpret the
actions and duties of the parties in accordance with the specific
standard or burden of proof set out in this Contract and By-Laws.
This Contract and By-Laws may be executed in duplicate originals
and its passage by entities listed in Appendix A shall be evidenced
by a certified copy of an ordinance or resolution passed by a
majority of the members of the governing board then in office.
Provided, however, that except to the extent of the financial
contributions of the AGENCY agreed to herein or such additional
obligations as may come about through amendments to these By-Laws
no MEMBER agrees or contracts herein to be held responsible for any
claims in tort or contract made against any other MEMBER. The
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contracting parties intend in the creation of the AGENCY to
establish an organization for joint risk management only within the
scope herein set out and have not herein created an insurance
company or as between MEMBER and MEMBER, except for that limited
extent,
any
relationship
of
surety,
indemnification
or
responsibility for the debts of or claims against any MEMBER.
I
L
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ARTICLE XIV. Host Member.
Any home rule MEMBER of the AGENCY may voluntarily agree to be
a host MEMBER.
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ARTICLE XV. Expulsion of Members.
By the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of the entire
membership of the Board of Directors present at a regular or
special meeting, any MEMBER may be expelled. Such expulsion may be
carried out for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) Failure to make any paYments due to the AGENCY.
(b) Failure to undertake or continue loss reduction and
prevention procedures adopted by the AGENCY.
(c) Failure to allow the AGENCY reasonable access to all
facilities of the MEMBER and all records which relate to
the purpose or powers of the AGENCY.
(d) Failure to furnish full cooperation with the AGENCY'S
attorneys, claims administrator and any agent, employee,
officer or independent contractor of the AGENCY relating
to the purpose and powers of the AGENCY.
(e) Furnish incorrect financial, claims history or other
information to the AGENCY.
(f) Failure to carry out any obligation of a MEMBER which
impairs the ability of the AGENCY, to carry out its
purpose or powers.
(g) A history of excessive pending or closed claims or losses
which in the absolute discretion of the Board of
Directors creates an unacceptable risk of similar adverse
future claims or losses.
If a MEMBER is expelled
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pursuant to Subsection (g), all prior reported claims
shall remain eligible for the coverage of the AGENCY.
No MEMBER may be expelled except after written notice from the
AGENCY of the alleged failure along with the reasonable opportunity
of not less than thirty (30) days to cure the alleged failure.
Provided, however, that no opportunity to cure shall be necessary
for an expulsion brought in whole or in part because of a poor loss
or claim history.
The MEMBER may request a hearing before the
Board before any decision is made as to whether the expulsion shall
take place.
The hearing must be requested in writing not later
than five (5) days after the time to cure has expired or in case no
time to cure is required within 30 days of the notice by the Board
of an intent to expel.
Times required for notices under this
contract shall be measured from the date of mailing or delivery if
personally delivered. The Board shall set the date for a hearing
which shall not be less than ten (10) days after the request for
the hearing. If the time to request a hearing has passed and the
MEMBER has not requested a hearing or if no hearing is required or
if such a hearing has been requested, no later than sixty (60) days
after the close of that hearing, the Board shall determine whether
the MEMBER will be expelled. A decision by the Board to expel a
MEMBER shall be final unless the Board shall be found by a Court to
have committed a clear abuse of discretion. The Board of Directors
may establish the date at which the expulsion of the MEMBER shall
be effective at any time not less than thirty (30) days after the
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vote expelling the MEMBER has been made by the Board of Directors.
If the motion to expel the MEMBER made by the Board of Directors or
a subsequent motion does not state the time at which the expulsion
shall take place, such expulsion shall take place thirty (30) days
after the date of the vote by the Board of Directors expelling the
MEMBER.
After expulsion, the former MEMBER shall continue to be fully
obligated for any annual or supplementary paYments for which it was
delinquent at the time of its expulsion and supplementary paYments
later voted by the AGENCY for losses which were within the scope of
coverage of the AGENCY during the time of its membership, along
with any other unfulfilled obligation as if it was still a MEMBER
of the AGENCY.
The expelled MEMBER shall, after expulsion, no
longer be entitled to participate or vote on the Board of Directors
or to receive the benefits of self-insurance coverage for any claim
otherwise covered on an occurrence basis which occurred before the
expulsion and for any claim otherwise covered on a claims made
basis which had both occurred and been reported prior to the
expulsion.
The Board of Directors may deduct from any paYments
made on behalf of an expelled MEMBER all amounts due the AGENCY.
No MEMBER expelled from the AGENCY, except for the paYment of
third-party claims, shall receive any return from the AGENCY of
funds paid into the Joint Risk Management Pool.
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ARTICLE XVI. Termination of the Agency.
At the conclusion of the ten (10) year term of this Contract
and By-Laws under the First Extension, all MEMBERS shall remain
fully obligated for their portion of any claim against the assets
of the Joint Risk Management Pool which is within the scope of
coverage of the AGENCY along with any other unfulfilled obligation,
including but not limited to calls for supplementary payments
attributable to the period of their membership which may be called
for in subsequent years. The Board of Directors shall continue to
meet on such a schedule as shall be necessary to carry out the
winding up of the affairs of the AGENCY. Because of the nature of
claims filed against governmental bodies, it is contemplated that
the Board may be required to meet for some time to conclude all
matters relating to the termination of the AGENCY. When all of the
affairs of the AGENCY are wound up and all claims and expenses of
the AGENCY are paid, or provision is made for their payment, the
members of the Board of Directors shall distribute any funds
remaining in the joint risk management pool to the MEMBERS in the
proportion which those MEMBERS contributed funds to the AGENCY.
MEMBERS expelled from the AGENCY shall not be entitled to the
return of any funds. At the conclusion of the ten (10) year term
of this Contract and By-Laws, if all debt instruments shall have
been repaid, MEMBERS of the AGENCY may elect to distribute to the
then existing MEMBERS some of the funds contained within the Joint
Risk Management Pool. The distribution of those funds, however,
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shall not affect the obligation of the MEMBERS to make
supplementary paYments to the Joint Risk Management Pool in the
event that claims which fall within the scope of coverage of the
AGENCY need to be paid at subsequent times.
In determining the
amount of funds which may be returned to the MEMBERS, the AGENCY
shall procure the recommendation of an actuary.
The AGENCY may
also purchase conventional insurance to fund either the remaining
known claims against the AGENCY or incurred but not reported
claims.
DATED:
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A C C E P TED
-L'77-~~'~-yill-
~ Municipal Cl rk
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WHEREUPON under the authority granted to me by Ordinance
(Resolution) No .1!.3 -d~ I passed by the Corporate Authorities
on the ~O ~ day of NoJ..f?/YJ~ I ~"o7, I do
hereby execute and the Clerk does hereby attest to my signature as
evidence that the \////dJ-e'./ ~~rC"; 0+ ';/h-f?
1/;//",/ 0-/ /7}<>L//J.;/ ,;+o;,4P.t?r
has approved participation in the FIRST EXTENSION OF THE HIGH-LEVEL
EXCESS LIABILITY POOL (HELP) I in accordance with this Contract and
By-Laws in its executed form and as it may subsequently be validly
amended.
I
ATTEST:
~/?~q'~o-W
This a(!1~ay of
daJ~/7J,.{F~
,
I ~~ 7 .
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APPENDIX A
Names of MEMBERS
Arlington Heights
Chicago Ridge
Deerfield
Des Plaines
Elk Grove village
Glenview
Hoffman Estates
Lincolnshire
Mt. Prospect
Oak Lawn
Park Ridge
Skokie
Streamwood
Wheaton
Winnetka
HELP\CON&1-6.97\1280988.000
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