5 Things, August 10: Walpole Receives $37,219 Through Insurance Program

1. Rain Likely Tonight

Friday calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm, according to the National Weather Service. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight calls for showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8pm. Patchy fog. Low around 69. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

2. Walpole Receives $37,219 from Insurance Premium Credits Through
MIIA Rewards Program

Walpole has received $37,219 back on its workers compensation and property casualty insurance costs. Committed to keeping the community safer and fiscally stronger, Walpole  earned the credits through participation in loss prevention and risk management activities that are part of incentive programs offered by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), its insurance provider.

The incremental insurance credits are earned through proactive and voluntary participation in MIIA-sponsored activities over the course of the year. The municipality implemented loss control measures that reduce the risk of accidents and property damage as well as administrative procedures and training programs that promote effective management and operations. MIIA offers these no cost training and educational courses as a membership benefit to help members reduce their risks and insurance premiums. In fiscal year 2012, MIIA awarded over $2.6 million of premium credit collectively to the membership through its Rewards program for a 10-year total of $17.3 million..

Walpole managers and employees participated in several seminars on management and leadership, including discrimination prevention. Employees also attended programs to enhance safety in the workplace and mitigate risk of injuries, such as summertime work safety, chainsaw operator training and safety for employees working in trenches, such as water and drain pipes, and in road work zones.

To maintain its municipal property, the police, fire and DPW departments have a regular fleet maintenance program. The town also implements a sewer overflow prevention program, and conducts facilities self-inspections, including indoor air quality, roofs and drainage inspections, and pipe freeze-up prevention programs. Walpole Town employees also participated in a federally mandated training in response to the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) for schools, which provides training to the person designated to oversee an asbestos evaluation and management plan. The town also as a tree assessment program and employees participated in a playground safety seminar. It has also implemented an emergency preparedness checklist.

“As a non-profit, member-driven organization, MIIA works with its members as partners to develop innovative programs to help relieve some of the financial burden they’re facing,” said MIIA Executive Vice President Stanley Corcoran. “We congratulate the Walpole Board of Selectmen and Town Administration for taking these proactive actions to Walpole’s mitigate risks, lower their insurance costs and reduce the impact on Walpole taxpayers.”

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4. Storytime at Barnes and Noble

Barnes & Noble at the Walpole Mall will be hosting a children's storytime at 10:30 a.m. The book The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza will be read aloud.

5. Live Music Tonight

The band Griffon will be providing the tunes at the British Beer Company on Route 1 in Walpole tonight.