Firefighters excluded from Terrebonne insurance plan

Full-time members of the Coteau and Bayou Cane fire districts will not be included in Terrebonne Parish’s insurance plan following a successful motion made by Councilman Kevin Voisin at last week’s Parish Council Policy, Procedure, and Legal Committee meeting.

Councilmen Pete Lambert, Alvin Tillman, Billy Hebert and Joey Cehan voted against Voisin’s motion to exclude members of the two fire districts in the parish’s insurance plan.

In September, the committee had tabled a resolution to include the two fire districts and other members of what it terms “outside agencies.”

The parish currently has several outside agencies in its plan, including the Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission; the coroner’s office; the Council on Aging; the tourist commission, and other fire and recreation districts.

At another Policy, Procedure, and Legal Committee meeting in September, members of the two fire districts told the committee they wanted to be included.

J. Dana Ortego, director of the parish’s Department of Risk Management, told the committee that keeping agencies within the system when they find better rates on premiums is a difficulty.

Collecting money from agencies when they leave is also an issue, he said.

“We would have to file suit to get the premiums,” he said.

Ortego told the committee the parish administration was recommending against including the two fire districts.

The resolution stated any agency leaving the plan would be required to remain out for five years.