The Town of Rochester almost dropped its long-held municipal insurance policy with the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) to pay lower premium rates with another company. But MIIA’s lower bid over the weekend preserved the status quo.
Last Thursday, the Select Board met with representatives of that other agency, the Sylvia Group, whose clients include the City of New Bedford, to discuss its potentially lower premium rates. But by Monday morning, MIIA had come back with a counteroffer and a lower bid, assuring the agency’s place as the town’s insurance carrier.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant said Rochester has contracted MIIA with a $258,000 premium and a $10,000 coverage deductible for FY2026. Last year’s MIIA premium was $297,000 with a $25,000 coverage deductible, he said.
Durant explained the town “was looking to reduce costs and increase service.” The latter goal stemmed from Durant’s comment in the Select Board’s discussion with Sylvia Group that he and administrator Andrea Lacerda “were not pleased with the customer-service experience from MIIA.”
MIIA addressed the customer-service complaint, Durant said, by explaining the company is implementing a new computer system that should improve its customer service. “They said they had a rough go implementing it,” he said. “That was the problem.”
He said the Select Board was impressed with the Sylvia Group’s presentation, but MIIA’s counteroffer changed the board’s minds about making the switch.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, July 7, at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco