HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08 Resolution Authorizing the City to Extend Workers' Compensation Coverage to Volunteers AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 7/22/2013
Meeting Type:Regular Meeting
Staff Contact/Dept.: Tom Mugleston/HR
Staff Phone No: 726-3724
Estimated Time: Consent Calendar
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Provide Financially
Responsible and
Innovative Government
Services
ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO EXTEND WORKERS’
COMPENSATION COVERAGE TO VOLUNTEERS.
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Adopt/Not Adopt the following Resolution: A RESOLUTION EXTENDING
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE TO
VOLUNTEERS OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The City has extended workers’ compensation coverage to volunteers for several years.
However, with the City’s recent change in workers’ compensation carriers from SAIF to
City County Insurance Services and pursuant to ORS 656.031, a new resolution is needed to
continue extending coverage to volunteers.
Volunteers to be covered by workers’ compensation are:
• Police Reserve Officers
• CERT volunteers
• Police vehicle cleaning volunteers
• City Council
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Volunteer Workers’ Compensation Resolution
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Signing of this resolution allows the city to continue to extend workers’ compensation
coverage to the volunteer groups listed above. No changes to volunteer coverage groups are
proposed at this time other than adding City Council. The City Council had been previously
included but dropped due to the time reporting requirements of the previous carrier. All
other volunteers receive the benefit of an excess medical policy.
Should Council not approve this resolution these volunteers would not be eligible for
workers’ compensation coverage under the City County Insurance pool. We would likely
offer excess medical coverage as we do with non-public safety volunteers.
While offering excess medical instead of workers’ compensation would probably save the
City a small amount, the disadvantage to the City is that we would lose the exclusive
remedy protection that workers’ compensation provides. By losing exclusive remedy, the
City could be exposed to personal damage and negligence claims with the possibility of jury
awards, whereas under workers’ compensation, damages are limited to those specified by
workers’ compensation law. In essence, workers’ compensation limits the City’s exposure
should an injury or accident occur. This is particularly important in high-risk jobs.
Attachment 1
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Attachment 1
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