NY Public Officials Liability Insurance is really the only way that elected and appointed officials can truly protect themselves financially in the case of a claim being brought against them. These policies provides liability coverage for the errors and omissions of a public official, and effectively serve the same function for elected/appointed government officials as a NY Directors and Officers (D&O) policy would provide for corporate managers and board-members. One major difference however is that employees along with the public entity itself are insureds under a NY Public Officials Liability Insurance program. These programs can protect against such claims as errors and omissions, negligence, breach of duty and misstatements, however there are a number of common exclusions including losses due to criminal acts, fraud or dishonesty, defamation, and fiduciary liabilities.

At MHB Insurance, we understand the unique challenges and rewards that accompany being an elected official and strive to provide the same dedication to our clients as you would to your constituency. Our Public Officials Liability insurance is designed to protect officials from a myriad of actual or alleged claims. Our Peekskill insurance agents will sit down with you to look objectively at the special risks, threats and opportunities you face as a public official. Once we identify the risks, we’ll teach how to avoid them. To learn more about us and how we can best serve you, contact us today at (914) 737-3430.

The post What Does NY Public Officials Liability Insurance Cover? appeared first on MHB Insurance.

There is no doubt about it, the craft beer industry in New York is booming. According to reports, the New York craft brewery industry grew 59 percent between 2013 and 2014 in response to less stringent regulations. Last November, New York state legislators enacted the Craft New York Act, which lowered licensing fees and increased the production cap for small breweries from 60,000 barrels to 75,000 barrels. The state also funded a $2 million grant program for marketing and promotions of New York’s small breweries. These factors, combined with the growing national interest in artisanal brewing and spirits has led to a surge in new breweries, cideries and wineries.

A recent report funded by the state Brewers Association and the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, showed that the number of craft breweries more than doubled between 2012 and January 2015, from 95 to over 207 breweries. Overall industry production and output jump 54 percent, to 859,535 barrels last year. Microbreweries are bringing much needed economic growth and ample opportunities for new business development in Westchester County. Westchester County is home to a a number of high ranking and award winning microbreweries, and will likely become home to even more. Last march the former brewmaster at Peekskill Brewery, announced his plans to open a Lower Hudson Valley brewery featuring his signature award-winning pale ales in 2016.

MHB Insurance supports both Craft Breweries & Microbreweries and everything they stand for. As much as we love our local breweries, we know you do too as their founders and owners. Our Peekskill Insurance Agency has an attractive collection of insurance coverage that is particularly well-suited to the brewing industry. Just as you craft hops and barley to make your finest brews, our New York Microbrewery insurance experts can craft a business insurance portfolio tailored to meet the specific property and liability needs of your operation. To learn more about our operation and all our offerings, contact us today at (914) 737-3430.

The post New York Craft Brewery Industry Booming appeared first on MHB Insurance.

Under federal law, all letters and emails written and received by federal officials, are considered government records and are supposed to be retained so that congressional committees, historians and members of the news media may access them at any time. While there are exceptions to the law for certain classified and sensitive materials, the vast majority of federal communications are subject to becoming public record. Furthermore, government personnel are supposed to be issued a government regulated email account through which to conduct business, and the use of private email is supposed to be limited to emergencies, according to experts. According to the New York Times article, Clinton was never issued an official government email account.

According to Clinton’s representatives, Clinton was fully adhering to both the “letter and spirt of the law” and has so far release some 55, 000 pages of emails to the State Department for review and archival upon being asked. Clinton is reportedly not the first government official, or the first secretary of state, to use a personal email account on which to conduct official business. Many critics are seizing the opportunity to call Clinton’s motives and dedication to regulatory transparency, however no official evidence or accusations of wrong doing have surfaced.

As the demand for greater government transparency and accountability continues to increase, both federal and local public officials face mounting liability exposures. At MHB Insurance we strive to help New York public officials secure the professional liability insurance solutions they need to survive claims of errors, negligence, breach of duty and more. The experts at our Peekskill insurance agency will sit down with you to look objectively at the special risks, threats and opportunities you face as a public official. Once we identify the risks, we’ll teach how to avoid them. To learn more about our NY Public Officials Liability insurance programs and our operation, contact us today at (914) 737-3430.

The post Email Creates NY Public Officials Liability Exposures appeared first on MHB Insurance.

According to reports, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has proposed to create an independent review process for police-related deaths of civilians should an officer be cleared by a grand jury. Simultaneously, a district attorneys group is supporting many general changes to the grand jury system that the governor proposed in his 2015 Opportunity Agenda. Governor Cuomo is recommending a two-tiered grand jury system which would create a secondary review process in such cases. In general, the New York District’s Attorney’s Association has voiced their support for the concept of legislative changes to increase the transparency of the grand jury process and to create more informed procedures. They have also suggests expanding the authority of the county district attorney to issue a written report and subsequent review under clearly delineated legal standards and defined procedures.

However, the Governor’s proposed changes to the grand jury system have not been met by uniform support. His most recent proposal to create an independent review of police-related deaths has seen significant opposition from the New York State Troopers union. Representatives for the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association argue that the appointment of a special prosecutor would be unfair to officers because it would add unjustified scrutiny. Opponents fear that the proposed changes would create a “double jeopardy situation” for police officers that are simply preforming their appointed duties. They argue that by establishing an additional investigative force, police officers would become subject to a different set of protocol and standards than any other citizen which would infringe upon their rights as individuals.

In the wake of recent controversy over grand jury decisions to not further investigate the deaths of two high profile civilian deaths connected to officer-civilian shootings Governor Cuomo and the New York officials are not the only legislators calling for such policy revisions. In fact, many state and local officials are pushing proposed legislation which would create more stringent and harsh review and penalty systems for incidents of civilian deaths by police officers.

As policies change and alter, it becomes increasingly clear that police officers and officials are growing more and more likely to face scrutiny and investigations into their actions and performance of their duties. As such, it is important that police officers and authorities are properly protected should they face any liability allegations or inquiries into their professional conduct. There are countless nuanced risks and loss exposures police professionals’ face which can only be mitigated by experience and seasoned risk management professionals.

At MHB Insurance, we offer New York police and correctional facilities insurance programs as part of our complete municipality insurance portfolio to ensure that civil servants are fully protected throughout the course of their service to their community.  We can help you set up NY police insurance coverage that meets your needs. To learn more about our operation and all our offerings, contact us today at (914) 737-3430.

The post NY Police Insurance: Gov. Pushes New Review Policy appeared first on MHB Insurance.

The East Coast has a long history of using salt to de-ice winter road. Historians suggest that the practice dates even farther back than 1941 when New Hampshire became the first state to adopt the practice of using salt to de-ice its highways instead of relying on laying other abrasive materials, such as sand, to improve traction. The practice quickly caught on in other municipalities and by the 1970s an estimated 10 million tons of salt were used annually on thousands of roads across the nation. Today, environmental experts estimate that more than 22 million tons of salt are used each winter in the U.S.

These numbers have started to draw attention over the years from concerned researchers and municipal officials. Salt in moderation is an essential part of the environment and ecosystems, however in excessive amount and in locations where it in not naturally abundant, salt can cause serious and widespread environmental damage. While salting roadways has been instrumental in maintaining accessibility of transit systems, many scientific studies have indicated that these methods have had dramatic implications on the environment.

For example, the Mohawk River Study which took place between 1952 and 1998 in Upstate New York, found that concentrations of sodium and chloride increased by 130 and 243 percent respectively. Other studies have indicated similar changes to local waterways and groundwater tables in various locals in which road salting is a common practice. Not only are local fresh water resources being affected, so are the flora and fauna in many ecosystems as well. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an estimated 40 percent of the country’s urban streams have chloride levels that exceed safe guidelines for aquatic life, primarily due to the use of road salt.

American municipal leaders and law makers are have just begun responding to this threat.  Some local transportation departments have begun pursuing strategies to reduce salt use, such as pre-storm salting in hopes of preventing snow and ice bind-up in the first place, in doing so reducing the amount of road salts used overall. Other municipalities have turned to concentrated saline solutions which allow the salt to spread more evenly and blend better into road surface. Furthermore, some municipalities are opting to adopting alternate de-icing compounds to decrease their reliance on road salts.

When it comes to environmental impact, municipal leaders and officials are facing mounting pressure for federal authorities and the public to adopt more sustainable policy and practice. Municipalities face a great deal of challenges when establishing new legislation, especially when the legislation results in conflicting policy goals. Balancing act can be tricky and even at the best of time municipal decisions and practices can lead to legal prosecution and other complications simply because a critic does not support their policy stances.

At MHB Insurance we can help you set up a NY Municipal Insurance coverage package that meets your organization’s needs. We strive to not only to design and write strong municipal insurance policies, but also to facilitate programs that can significantly reduce the cost of risk.  We help New York municipalities navigate the daunting network of laws and regulations that affect their insurance requirements. We even offer specialty coverage designed Public Officials and Civil Service Departments, to protect against liability, to ensure that the entire chain of command is protected.  To find out more about how we can keep your organization covered; call us at 914-737-3430 today.

The post NY Municipal Insurance: The Side Effects of De-Icing appeared first on MHB Insurance.

According to experts, every day roughly 25, 000 Americans suffer fall accidents both on and off the job. These incidents account for over 20 percent of all emergency room medical treatment each year. Falls often result in broken and fractured bones, contusions, abrasions, sprains, concussions and many more complications which can keep workers from their jobs and present huge liability concerns for Westchester businesses. All business operations face some exposure to such accidents; however the food service and hospitality industries often face more risks than most.

Research indicates that the vast majority of falls and slip incidents occur in hotels, food establishments and public buildings. In fact, in food service these accidents are the leading cause of worker injury, as American restaurants average between 3-9 slip and fall incidents each year. Slip and fall accidents account for roughly $70 million in workers compensation claims and medical expenses each year. Furthermore they are the leading cause of lost work and productivity time.  Experts estimate that roughly 65 percent of all lost workdays are the result of slips, trips and fall incidents.  That means that roughly 95 million workdays are lost annually due to these accidents.

Additionally many operations face a huge risk of accidents involving patrons, guests and customers as well, which exposes Westchester to additional financial losses and operational strain. Preventing slips in the workplace and is a vital part of your risk management and workplace safety strategy to avoid worker injuries, liability exposures and losses. However, not all accidents can be prevented. That’s where comprehensive New York business insurance comes into play.

At MHB Insurance, we are leading business insurance and risk management specialist. We not only offer comprehensive insurance policies and products, we also offer a host of loss control and consulting services to help Westchester businesses navigate their operational hazards and loss exposures.   Our Westchester NY Workers Comp Insurance specialists can help create programs that will provide for you, your employees and your operation in the event of a workplace accident or injury. To learn more about our operation and all our offerings, give us a call today at (914) 737-3430.

The post Westchester NY Workers Comp Insurance: Slips and Falls appeared first on MHB Insurance.

The second wave of enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is set to begin on November 15^th 2014, and as the date draws near, businesses, officials and analysts have begun evaluating the success of the act thus far. Most of the focus regarding the ACA has been on whether individuals have been able to find affordable coverage through the online marketplaces, but the law was far more intricate than simply providing a public forum for healthcare acquisition.

Another huge tenet of the ACA remains the intent of creating a robust and highly competitive insurance market for small businesses to be able to offer health care benefits to their employees while receiving tax credits for doing so. The ACA was designed to help stimulate small business find low-cost plans that they could then offer to their employees at reasonable rates. In theory it would be good for employers and employees and also strengthen the health insurance market, but according to a recent report from the New York Times, many small businesses are still not offering healthcare plans to their employees.

One reason could be because there is still much confusion for employers about what the incentives and options are for small businesses. Known as the Small-Business Health Options Program (SHOP), the ACA created an insurance marketplace that was designed specifically for employers with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees to ensure that these businesses had access to affordable health insurance programs. Businesses are able to choose from 4 levels of coverage for their employees each plan offering different coverage inclusions and premium rates. The leveled coverage platform is designed to help employers balance their expenditures with the needs and capacity of their employees. While there is no official estimate or data about how many small businesses signed up for coverage in the small-business exchanges, estimates are relatively small based on numbers of enrolled employees in business subsidized plans versus individual plans.

Officials are reportedly hoping for better numbers in the coming years as they have committed to making a number of fixes and improvements to the SHOP infrastructure. One such adjustment will allow businesses the opportunity to enroll online this year, as officials believe that ease of access many have hindered some employers from enrolling. Employers were previously forced to fill out applications by hand. They are also reports that ACA officials are working more closely with brokers to craft a better selection of offerings for 2015.

Whether your operation is currently offering or looking to offer employee healthcare benefits, it is important to assess your needs and abilities. At MHB, we know how important it is to offer a strong employee benefits plan to your employees.  The right Peekskill employee benefits plan plays a critical role in building and preserving employee health, morale and retention. Our Peekskill employee benefits experts can help assess and address the needs of your operation and find quality solutions that are right for you and your employees.  Whether you are looking to establish a voluntary benefits program or seeking to help your employees subsidize their healthcare costs, our Peekskill employee benefits specialists are here to help you navigate your multitude of options. To learn more about our operation and business solutions, give us a call today at (914) 737-3430.

The post Peekskill Employee Benefits: ACA Reprise New Enrollment appeared first on MHB Insurance.

Autumn is officially upon us which means that the holiday season is just around the corner. While most consumers are still mourning the lost days of summers past, retailers have already begun shifting their stocks and displays to reflect the colors and festivities of the new season. Fall displays have been up for weeks, and now is the time when most New York business owners begin to focus their attention on preparing for the holiday shopping season to come. For many retailers this means securing extra help for annual winter sales and the shopping frenzy which follows.

However, seasonal hiring can be a complicated and time consuming process. From choosing the right staff members to getting everyone properly trained in their new roles, seasonal staffing can be chaotic and stressful. That’s why we have compiled a few tips to help ease your operation through the hiring hurdles to achieve a prosperous and festive season.

• Start hiring now- October is already upon us and before you know it Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means that Black Friday is nearly here. If you are not yet thinking about staffing for the months to come, it’s about time to begin. Getting an early start on seasonal hiring process can result in less stress and scrabbling down the line as business picks up your time gets spread thin. Give yourself more opportunity to deliberate about your hiring decisions and to fully train new recruits or refresh veteran workers on the demands and expectation of the season.
• Don’t Sugar Coat the Job- Finding workers for the Holidays can be tricky, especially when nearly everyone is trying to balance work, families and fun, and hiring in a new employee is an expensive investment. It is important to make sure that all employees, especially seasonal hires, understand the time commitments and demands of working through the holiday season.  Being open about the demands, challenges, and expectation for the position will help deter unmotivated and flakey job candidates.
• Don’t Lower Your Standards- While they may only be temporary hires to you, seasonal workers must still preform many of the same job function as traditional employees, including interacting with customers, handling cash and money transactions, and dealing with stock and merchandise. Many seasonal hires understand that they are temporary and as such might not always conduct themselves in as if they were permanent members of your team. In other words, be sure to hire only candidates that you trust and would like to see become permanent or regular employees if those options became available.

Between property losses and liability concerns, NY retail stores face a daunting number of risk exposures each day. At MHB Insurance, our NY retail store insurance specialists can protect your retail or wholesale operation against the mishaps and the unexpected. Our NY loss control specialists can help you identify potential risks that might result in a higher loss ratio and device comprehensive risk assessment and management solutions for New York businesses of all types and sizes. We invite you to give our NY retail store insurance specialists a call today at (914) 737-3430, to learn more about all out business insurance solutions.

The post NY Retail Store Insurance: Tips for Seasonal Staffing appeared first on MHB Insurance.

The ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” is the latest viral craze is sweeping across Facebook pages and YouTube channels and various other platforms throughout internet. Millions of people, from the kids next door to A-list celebrities and public figureheads, are making a spectacle of themselves dousing their bodies with buckets of ice water. The exhibition is all in the name of fundraising and for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, research and awareness. But the tactic has gotten mixed reviews for critics who often argue that the campaign has become such a phenomenon that it has lost its focus and purpose.   Despite critical and philosophical bantering about the morality of large-scale viral campaigns and their impact on altruistic charitable contributions, the fact remains that such campaigns are in fact helping to raise both awareness and funds for a given cause.

To date, the campaign has successfully raised just under 100 million dollars for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, a drastic difference from the two and a half million annual average of previous years. Smaller organizations across the country have seen similar increases in donations. Not only has the campaign raised funds of ALS, it has also gained increasing prominence in the public eye, bringing immeasurable awareness to millions of individuals worldwide. Such exposure is invaluable for any cause or charity.

According to reports, the ALS Wikipedia page has seen exponential readership statistical growth between August 1^st and August 27^th this year. In those days alone the ALS Wikipedia page had 2,717,754 views, nearly twice as many visitors than the entire prior 12 months combined.  Average daily visits to the ALS Association website itself have seen similar results leading to a combined total for August of roughly 30 million visits, mostly new traffic. The campaign has also culminated in over 4,483,726 mentions on Twitter and millions more through other social media forums.

While not all campaigns go viral, the incorporation of social media has proven exponentially helpful to many non-profit and charitable organizations as a public relations, marketing and communication tool. There are however increased risk exposure which often accompany any new campaign or undertaking, including viral social media campaigns.

At MHB Insurance we strive to help non-profit operations in New York protect themselves and their assets from the ever increasing risk exposures they face. Through our non-profit insurance programs, our Peekskill business insurance experts have the opportunity to share our passion for community service and helping others with our skills in providing insurance programs tailored to non-profits. Give our NY non-profit insurance specialists a call today at (914) 737-3430 to learn how we can help your operation.

The post NY Non-profit Insurance: The Value of Going Viral appeared first on MHB Insurance.

After decades of near irradiation, bed bugs have reemerged in recent years and pose a huge problem for consumers and businesses across the nation. In 2012, the resurgence of the bed bug population prompted theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to release a statement warning the public about bed bugs and their dangers. Thousands of bed bug outbreaks are reported each year, with high densities of infestation in various regions of the country.

During the 1950s and 60s, the insects were nearly irradiated from American hotels due to the prevalent application of powerful pesticides such as DDT. Nearly anyone could acquire high-strength pesticides which allowed more immediate preventative actions to be taken at the first sign of an infestation, without any professional assistance. The EPA has since restricted the use of many of the most potent insecticides, as well as restricted the amount of preventative pest management tactics that business owners are allowed to implement. All-purpose insecticides are no longer considered legal or safe for commercial or residential use, which has created many challenges for the hospitality industry. Experts suggest that the prevalence of bed bugs throughout the world and increased international travel combined with increased federal regulations regarding insect control and management, has led to the resurgence of bed bugs in American.

Today bed bugs are a prevalent threat, especially for the NY hospitality industry where outbreaks are frequent and exacerbated by high turnover of traveling guests. However, bed bugs have not always posed such a high threat to the American population. Keeping Hudson Valley hotels pest free is essential to the vitality of the hospitality industry, especially in the digital era where information spreads like wild fire through social media and digital platforms. If a hotel guest has an encounter with bed bugs during their stay, their story will likely be widely spread across the internet, which can greatly influence public opinions and decision making. While bed bugs are often carried to a hotel by travelers, internet reports and accounts of guests’ bed bug encounters can place the establishment under scrutiny both publicly and privately and be detrimental to the reputation and financial success of an establishment.

Proper precaution and quick treatment of any pest problem can help minimize the fallout your operation may face should it be associated with a pest problem like bed bugs. It is essential that hotel staff members are properly trained to identify bed bugs and report and occurrence quickly. Proper professional treatment is essential to help mitigate the negative impacts an infestation can have on Hudson Valley hotels.

At MHB Insurance, we understand the unique risks faced by the hospitality industry and offer all the right Hudson Valley hotel insurance products to help protect any hospitality provider.  Our hospitality insurance is designed for hotels, motels, restaurants, bars and other organization of all sizes. Policies can be designed specifically to fit the needs of any operation, including a full range of coverage from business property protection to liability exposures.  Give our Hudson Valley hotel insurance specialists a call today at (914) 737-3430 to learn more about getting exceptional coverage at great rates.

The post Hudson Valley Hotel Insurance: Bed Bug Infestations on the Rise appeared first on MHB Insurance.