Board elections

Danvers Town Manager Wayne Marquis and Chesterfield Select Board member David Kielson were re-elected to the MIIA Inc. Board for three-year terms. Easton Selectman Colleen Corona was newly elected to the Board to complete the final year of an open three-year term.

The MIIA Property and Casualty Group re-elected two board members to two-year terms and elected one new member, also to a two-year term. The new board member is Marshfield Town Administrator Rocco Longo. Re-elected were Marquis and Cohasset Town Manager William Griffin.

The Trustees of the MIIA Health Benefits Trust elect board members each January at the trustees meeting. Middleton Town Administrator Ira Singer was re-elected to a three-year term. Two new trustees were also elected. Winchester Town Manager Melvin Kleckner was elected to a three-year term, and Wakefield Town Administrator Stephen Maio was elected to complete the remaining two years of an open three-year term.

Loss Control Awards

Awards for “Excellence in Loss Control” were presented to the following nine members of the MIIA Property and Casualty Group:

• Chesterfield: The town’s commitment to loss control has helped produce excellent loss experience. Chesterfield participates in the MIIA grant program and is cooperative with MIIA’s overall loss control efforts.

• Douglas: The town continues to actively participate in MIIA’s loss control programs. Douglas makes effective use of MIIA’s grant program and participates in many MIIA Rewards seminars. The town maintains a close working relationship with MIIA loss control staff and is cooperative in addressing loss control concerns.

• Easton: The town maintains a safety committee that meets quarterly. As a larger community, Easton continues to enjoy excellent loss experience. The town actively participates in MIIA’s Rewards program and is committed to ensuring that employees are trained in safety.

• Erving: The town has implemented a regular, quarterly risk management meeting. Staff proactively contact MIIA loss control for consultation on items with great loss potential. The town takes maximum advantage of MIIA’s grant program.

• Marblehead: The town has been very active in the MIIA Rewards program, has fully implemented several MIIA loss control programs, and makes the most of all MIIA services available to the town. Marblehead is eager to host any program. The town manages its own risk by administering effective preventive maintenance programs. The town’s efforts have proven effective, as their loss ratio is consistently well below average.

• Orleans: The town holds effective safety committee meetings quarterly. Orleans is very cooperative with MIIA loss control efforts and maintains a good rapport with loss control representatives. The town has had excellent loss experience.

• Sunderland: The town is very cooperative with MIIA’s loss control efforts. Sunderland maintains open communication with loss control representatives and is proactive in setting up training and other loss control programs. Like other award winners, the town has good loss experience.

• Westborough: The town has a risk management committee that meets quarterly. Westborough participates in many regional MIIA Rewards seminars and takes advantage of the loss control grant program. The town is very responsive to loss control efforts.

• Weston: The town’s safety committee meets on a quarterly basis, with very high participation from the town and the school department. Weston coordinates training and actively promotes accident prevention. The town has used most of the driver training programs offered by MIIA and is an active MIIA Rewards participant.

Wellness Awards

The Best in Wellness 2009 award for a small account went to Rutland. The town held a six-week inter-departmental wellness challenge focusing on exercise, healthy diet and weight loss – the top three health risk areas. Challenges were changed weekly to keep interest and motivation high. There was excellent participation by both Town Hall and public works employees.

The Best in Wellness 2009 award for a mid-size account went to the Triton Regional School District. Triton’s wellness offerings grew tremendously in popularity and attendance in 2009. The School District targeted series programs and programs with physical activity, since these tend to be the most successful. The district’s wellness contact demonstrated great effort and communication.

The Best in Wellness 2009 award for a large account went to Marblehead. The town has developed a tremendous wellness program in the last year. There is great management support, and a very active wellness committee has been instrumental in the growth of the program. There has been high participation in many different wellness activities focusing on nutrition and fitness.

Article by John Kelly, MIIA Operations Manager