Official's troubles imperil insurance
By DAN DeWITT, Times Staff Writer
Published September 14, 2007
BROOKSVILLE - The Brooksville Housing Authority's car insurance company plans to cancel its coverage because Executive Director Ronnie McLean's Florida and New York driver's licenses have been suspended, according to a letter sent to the authority.
The Florida license was suspended for failure to pay a traffic fine, according to the letter from Auto-Owners Insurance, which said the authority's policy will be canceled on Nov. 2; McLean's New York license has been canceled for failure to pay child support, the letter said.
McLean downplayed the problem Thursday, saying his Florida license was restored after he paid the fine earlier in the day. The same day, he said, he took out a new policy from the agency that covers most other authorities in the state, the Florida Housing Authorities Risk Management Insureds.
"We've never had an insurance problem," McLean said.
That's not entirely true, said Frank Chavers, chief executive officer of Risk Management. McLean did not tell his agency his license had been suspended when he applied for the policy, Chavers said. Also, the current policy does not cover McLean for driving while he is on duty.
One authority board member, Paul Douglas, said this issue is about more than insuring the authority's employees and vehicles. Because McLean misled Auto-Owners, he said, it has undermined his trust in McLean.
Douglas has requested an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. That has been set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Housing Authority Office.
McLean's license was suspended July 16 for failing to pay a fine for an unspecified traffic infraction, according to Pinellas County records. McLean said he was originally fined for not wearing a seat belt and didn't pay the fine because he wasn't aware his license had been violated.
McLean, who has two children who still live in New York, also said he does not have a license in that state. But Douglas said McLean initially provided his New York license information so he could be included on the authority's policy and said he did not have a Florida license.
Douglas said he learned this from talking to Mark Browning, president of Browning Insurance Agency, of Brooksville, which arranged the coverage through Auto-Owners.
Dan DeWitt can be reached at dewitt@sptimes.com or 352 754-6116.