ANDOVER — Resident Esau Cooper has asked selectmen for help in buying insurance for a lawn tractor race this fall.
“We’ve kind of run up against a wall getting a fall tractor race together,” he told the board at its meeting Sept. 20. “We talked to a lawyer and the lawyer strongly advised any of us from going out and buying a policy to race (at Grimaldi Field) because of the liability,” he said.
The town holds tractor races on Grimaldi Field during its Olde Home Days celebration in August.
Cooper said he and other enthusiasts want to have fall and spring tractor races but an insurance company would only sell them a policy for four races at a cost of $2,200.
“We’ve kind of been advised by some smarter people that the best way to do this to avoid the liability is to go through the town through the select people,” he said.
Cooper said he and others would reimburse the town for the cost of the insurance rider the day of the race.
Selectman Sharon Hutchins asked Selectmen Jane Rich and Jim Adler if they thought it would be a good idea for the selectmen to sponsor the race and have the race enthusiasts reimburse the town. She said a man from the Maine Municipal Association had encouraged her “not to be afraid to do things in your town.”
Adler asked Town Treasurer Barbara Simmons about the cost of the insurance policy rider for the Old Home Days’ one-day tractor race and Simmons said she thought it was $192 for the day.
Speaking about the possibility of the board buying an insurance rider and being reimbursed by the race enthusiasts, Adler said the town’s MMA insurance “would have to kick in” if they were sued above the insurance policy’s rider amount.
“I get that, but I don’t get throwing caution to the wind just because we’re covered,” he said. The races were risky because of the possibility of an accident and lawsuit against the town, he said.
Cooper said the races have attracted many people to the town and provided revenue. “And there’s quite a few people around that are inspired and go home and are building tractors. It has its benefits; (it’s) putting Andover on the map,” he said.
Hutchins asked Cooper how he thought he might proceed.
Cooper said the enthusiasts would “take it to the town” for a vote.
Adler said selectmen are tasked with protecting the town.
“This event was great when it started, but now I feel it’s kind of taking on a life of its own and I don’t think the town should be involved in it,” Adler said.
He and Rich said the tractor races at Olde Home Days would continue.
Rich said there are still a lot of questions about the insurance coverage.
“We’ll look into it. I’m not saying no; I’m just being cautious,” Adler said.
mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net
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