Town of Orchard Park

STATE LOOKING AT ORCHARD PARK'S DEAL ON INSURANCE:

The New York State Attorney General's office is reviewing the Town of Orchard Park's insurance committee arrangement, and a representative had "deep concerns," according to Supervisor Mary Travers Murphy.

Travers Murphy said at Wednesday night's Town Board meeting that she had asked the Attorney General's office whether the insurance brokers committee setup violates any state laws.

The committee, made up of six brokers from within the town, makes recommendations to the town on insurance and one of its members writes the liability insurance for the town - a $500,000-plus per year account. That member also pays each other member of the committee a commission, usually between $3,000 and $6,000 a year.

"I was concerned about the legality of the commission," Travers Murphy said.

Town Attorney Leonard Berkowitz said the town will ask the Attorney General's office for a formal opinion and will comply with that.