JIF Places Township in Retrospective Program for Workmen's Comp Claims

Galloway Township has taken more money out of the Atlantic County Joint Insurance Fund than it has contributed over the last few years, and the JIF wants to put it into a program to monitor its contributions and workmen's compensation claims, JIF contractor Paul Forlenza said at the council meeting Tuesday night, Dec. 13.

According to Forlenza, the township has taken $1.19 out of the fund for every dollar the township contributes. Forlenza proposed the township be placed in a Retrospective Program to monitor the township.

“The remaining members (of the JIF) are paying more than their fair share,” Forlenza said. “It’s difficult to ask towns that are doing well right now to contribute more.”

A set price for claims will be set for the township, which would then be responsible for paying any claims that go over the amount. Forlenza called it a "financial incentive" for the township to control claims.

The township is facing an 8.33 percent increase in its contribution, but it could’ve been up to 20 percent, Forlenza said. The township would be monitored for the next three years, and will be evaluated again in June 2016.

“Employees need to understand that we put these safety classes in place for a reason,” Galloway Township Mayor Don Purdy said. “They need to understand they can’t put a dollar in and take out $1.19. It has a major impact.

“People are going to get hurt. It’s about how they rehabilitate. They always want a payout. … We have a lot of great employees here, but a select people are costing people a lot of money.”

“It’s not a matter of people getting hurt and going back to work,” Councilman Dennis Kleiner said. “Everything has a lawsuit attached to it. If you break your hand and get it fixed, it might cost $10,000, but it’s more than just a broken hand.”

Exact totals for what the township pays as compared to what it contributes overall weren’t immediately available following Tuesday night’s meeting.

“If someone gets hurt, there’s always someone there to hand out lawyer cards,” Purdy said, adding he wasn’t sure why the problem is more prevalent in Galloway than it is in other townships.

During the course of Forlenza’s appearance before council, Councilman Tony Coppola asked what measures are taken by the JIF to ensure all claims are accurate, and Forlenza assured all claims are investigated.

“We’ve had people hurt their back and claim they can’t work, but we showed up and they were painting their house,” Forlenza said, speaking in general terms and not specifically as it relates to Galloway.

Forlenza said people are then sent back to work, and prison time is also possible.

“I didn't mean to say I think employees are taking advantage of the system,” Coppola said. “Our employees are hard working, and nothing’s more demoralizing than having someone else taking advantage of the system.”

Purdy said it was important for the township’s employees to be cautious not get hurt, particularly in tough economic times when township services and employees are cut.

“That includes office employees, public works employees, police,” Purdy said. “Our guys are doing more with less. The streets are not getting any easier, the leaves aren’t staying the same. It’s getting tougher, and individuals everywhere are taking advantage of the system.”