Council committee amends special-event insurance rules to allow waiver review by safety committee

The Committee on Ordinance, Charter and Rules reviewed proposed amendments to the Woburn Municipal Code's special-event permit insurance requirements (cited in discussion as section 12-56). City Clerk Higgins explained that a 2018 update produced inconsistency in how older events were handled and that rising insurance costs had prompted a review of minimum coverage and waiver rules.

Councilors discussed common insurance thresholds in other communities and the burden that high umbrella-liability requirements can impose on small events such as road races or community gatherings. Several councilors and the clerk suggested $1,000,000 per occurrence with higher aggregate or umbrella coverage as more realistic; the committee debated whether the ability to waive umbrella coverage should remain tightly limited.

The committee amended the ordinance language to add a waiver path: the city council may waive the umbrella liability insurance coverage for a special event provided the waiver request receives a favorable report from the Committee on Public Safety and License. The committee voted to advance the amended ordinance language.

City staff said they will update application forms and bring back any additional clarifications needed before the code change is finalized.