November 27, 1979
SUBJECT: INSURANCE
Circular Letter No. 30 (1979)
WITHDRAWN
TO: ALL INSURERS LICENSED TO WRITE FIRE INSURANCE IN NEW YORK STATE
SUBJECT: TAX DISTRICTS CLAIMS AGAINST FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Section 33-a of the Insurance Law, as amended by Chapter 570 of the Laws of 1978, requires the Insurance Department to maintain an index of tax districts which pursuant to the provisions of Section 22 of the General Municipal Law have filed with this Department "notice of intention to claim against the proceeds of a policy of fire insurance insuring the interest of an owner in any premises located therein against which a lien for real property taxes or other municipal charges exist." Under Section 22 of the General Municipal Law one or two family residential structures are excluded.
Circular Letter 19 of this Department dated July 17, 1979 included a list of tax districts which have filed with this Department a notice of intention to claim against fire insurance proceeds. An updated list is now attached. As additional tax districts file, the names of the officials who should be contacted will be available in the Tax Districts Records Office of this Department.
The provisions of Section 33-a of the Insurance Law require that prior to the payment of a loss, insurers must notify the enforcing officer of the tax district in which such property is located that a loss has been sustained and demand that a certificate setting forth the amount of all liens against the property including interest and penalties, be served upon the insurer "within twenty days from the date of receipt of such demand." The law further provides that "Within ten days of receipt of such certificate of lien and a final determination of the insurer's obligation to pay such proceeds, the insurer shall pay therefrom the amounts specified in the certificate to the enforcing officer." It should be emphasized that this Department has not approved the adoption by insurers of any other procedure for complying with this law.
Acknowledgment of this letter and inquiries with respect to new tax districts that have filed with this Department should be addressed to:
Mr. Herbert F. Campbell
Tax District Records Office
N.Y.S. Insurance Department
2 World Trade Center
New York, NY 10047
Phone (212) 488-3838 / 488-7578
Very truly yours,
[SIGNATURE]
ALBERT B. LEWIS
Superintendent of Insurance
ATTACHMENT
LIST OF TAX DISTRICTS
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CLAIM AGAINST FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
City of New York
Ms. Dorothy Joseph
City Collector
NYC Department of Finance
139 Centre Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 566 3947
City of Rochester
Mr. Louis N. Kash
Corporation Counsel
City of Rochester
400A City Hall
Rochester, NY 14614
(716) 428 6986
City of Syracuse
Mr. Frank L. Canino
Commissioner of Finance
City of Syracuse
106 City Hall
Syracuse, NY 13202
City of Newburgh
Ms. Marlene A. Koisch, City Clk.
City of Newburgh
City Hall
Newburgh, NY 12550
(914) 565 3209
City of Long Beach
Mrs. Catherine Pirrone
City Hall
One West Chester St.
Long Beach, NY 11561
(516) 431 1000 Ext. 233
City of Yonkers
Mr. Fred A. Schnur,
Comptroller
City of Yonkers
City Hall
Yonkers, NY 10701
(914) 963 3980 Exts. 321 & 322
City of Buffalo
Ms. Margaret Anderson
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Mayor's Task Force on Housing
Frank A. Sedita City Ct. Bldg.
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 847 8256
City of Utica
Mr. Louis A. Barile, City Treas
City of Utica
One Kennedy Plaza
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 798-3210
City of Troy
Mr. Anton L. Miorin,
City Treasurer
City Hall
One Monument Square
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 270 4406
Suffolk County
Ms. Jean H. Tuthill
Suffolk County Treasurer
Suffolk County Center
Riverhead, NY 11901
Orange County
Mr. Raymond A. Schwarz
Commissioner of Finance
Orange County Government Ctr.
Goshen, NY 10924
(914) 294 5151 Ext. 120
Wyoming County
Mrs. Shirley T. Holbrook, Trea.
County of Wyoming
Wyoming County Treasurers Office
Court House Bldg.
Warsaw, NY 14569
Chautauqua County
Mr. Lorron G. Caryl
Finance Director
County Office Bldg.
Mayville, NY 14757
(716) 753 4223
Village of Spring Valley
Ms. Julia Jacaruso, Clerk-Treas.
Village of Spring Valley
Rockland County, NY 10977
Village of Williamsville
Ms. Theresa L. Cummins
Village Clerk-Treasurer
Village of Williamsville
5583 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 632 4120
Village of Liberty
Mrs. Emmagene Travis
Clerk/Treasurer
Municipal Building
Village of Liberty
Liberty, NY 12754
(914) 292-6820
Wayne County
Mrs. Lois Van Hoover
Wayne County Treasurer
9 PearlStreet
Lyons, NY 14489
(315) 946 4823
Orleans County
Ms. Mary B. Basinait
Orleans County Treasurer
Court House
Albion, NY 14411
(716) 589 5353
Village of Hempstead
Mr. Frank E. DeSetto
Village Clerk-Treasurer
Village of Hempstead
99 Nicholas Court
Hempstead, NY 11551
(516) 489 3400
Village of Green Island
Mr. Francis X. Houle, III
Deputy Treasurer
Village of Green Island
20 Clinton Street
Green Island, NY 12183
Village of Kenmore
Ms. Phyllis Higgins
Village Clerk Treasurer
Village of Kenmore
2919 Delaware Avenue
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 873 5700
City of Middletown
Mr. Nicholas F. Vuolo
City Clerk/Treasurer
City Hall
16 James Street
Middletown, New York 10940
(914) 343-3187
Village of Malone
Mr. Edgar H. French
Village Clerk/Treasurer
Malone Village Office
14 Elm Street
Malone, New York 12953
(518) 483-4570
Village of Freeport
Mr. James Lyons,
Village Treasurer
46 North Ocean Avenue
Freeport, New York 11520
(516) 378-4000