Lone Star Report Recent Blog Posts

Feb 28

Written by: Mark Lavergne
2/28/2011 7:08 PM 

Following the meeting of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association governing board this evening, a few things are clear. First, Jim Oliver will not be the TWIA general manager much longer, but he is apparently not being fired. A transition team will work with him to find a replacement. Second, no more vehicles will be awarded in severance packages to employees who are leaving TWIA. Third, TWIA staff must cooperate with TDI and its staff in their investigations into how TWIA handles the claims process.

After more than three hours in closed session this afternoong, the TWIA board of directors tonight passed three resolutions. Here they are, in a nutshell.

The first resolution was that TWIA’s staff will give no type of “in kind” payments to employees as a part of a severance package. That means no more trucks awarded as part of a severance package, as was the case with former Vice President of Claims Reggie Warren. Money, fine, but no vehicles or other goods. The resolution is prospective, not retroactive, meaning previously awarded in kind payments are not voided. Further, TWIA staff must fully cooperate with TDI and its staff in connection with its administrative oversight and targeted exam of TWIA, the board said.

Second, the board resolved that TWIA staff will draft a proposal for review by the board of directors in the quarterly meeting in March to establish a committee composed of board members to investigate claims practices.

Third, the board delegated to the executive committee the duty of creating and implementing a transition plan that will result in a new general manager at TWIA. The board’s chairman will work with Oliver ad other staff to prepare recommendations for the board at a public meeting, but it may or may not be at TWIA’s quarterly meeting in March. For the time being, there is no change in Oliver’s status or duties. The resolution does say however that because of the “importance and urgency” of the charge, the recommendations should be made as soon as possible.