TRUMBULL COUNTY Board awards new insurance pact

By soliciting bids, the county will save $20,000 a year.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners have canceled a 3-month-old contract for employee life insurance and awarded a new one, this time based on competitive bidding.
The new contract goes to the same company, Ravella Insurance Agency, of Girard.
However, the county will save 14 percent, about $20,000 per year, on the rates that the company offered to Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo Jr. over the phone.
Commissioners first granted the insurance contract to Ravella on Sept. 26, days before the old contract was set to expire.
Angelo said he contacted two insurance brokers for quotes after the company the county had been doing business with raised its rates.
Savings: Ravella returned his call, then offering coverage at a cost of 21 cents per $1,000. The old company wanted 25 cents.
"Any time I can save the county money because of my actions I'll save the county money," Angelo said.
In September, Commissioner Michael O'Brien voted against giving Ravella the contract because he thought it should have been advertised for bids.
It was then advertised, based on the recommendation of the county prosecutor, officials said.
Ravella Insurance was the lowest of five bidders, this time offering 18 cents per $1,000 of coverage, making the total contract worth about $70,000.
The contract was unanimously approved by commissioners.