Electric Department Board Approves Health Coverage Continuation for Families After Line-of-Duty Death

HUNTINGDON (April 16) — A special called meeting of the Carroll County Board of Public Utilities was held at the electric department office Wednesday with heavy hearts taking action to provide continued health coverage to the family of lineman Chance Carlton, who died in the line of duty during the severe weather outbreak earlier this month.

Board members approved an amendment to the Employee Handbook creating a new policy “to provide health insurance coverage at the maximum number of months [currently 36] as allowed under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) to the spouse and dependents of a covered employee who experiences an in-line-of-duty loss of life.”

Coverage provided will be the same as offered to any active full-time employee and includes any such supplementary items such as a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. The policy was made retroactive to April 1.

Samantha Carlton, the widow of Chance, was present at the meeting. Board Chairman Lori Nolen told her, “We grieve along with you. We appreciate your presence here today.”

Nolen expressed the board’s urgency in calling the special meeting “to do this as fast as we could.”

Jacob Smothers, agent for S&S Insurance, explained the basics of the policy and offered to answer any questions.

Electric department General Manager Ryan Drewry expressed the department’s intention “to hopefully alleviate some stress [in this] sensitive situation.”

Present members Nolen, Paul Moore and Victoria Williams unanimously approved the amendment. Members Chris Gurley and John Austin were unable to attend.

Moore commended the department’s response to do “everything that can possibly be done for the family.” He addressed Samantha directly, “Your family and all of the other families, everybody here, from what I understand, is just one big happy family. And I’m just so sorry. As far as the electric company [is concerned], I think anything that can be done to help you will be done.”