David Grubb, co-founder and executive director of the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, was recently honored as one of the 2022 recipients of the Distinguished Public Service Award by the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
The NJLM Distinguished Public Service Award is presented to individuals and organizations that have, over time, made substantial contributions to the state through their distinguished public service.
Grubb was honored in recognition of his more than three decades of leadership and commitment to New Jersey public entities
Michael Cerra, the executive director of NJLM, said the organization is grateful for Grubb’s many years of service to the state and its municipalities.
“The MEL has been a critical partner in reducing insurance costs and maximizing safety in municipalities, from tips to avoiding falls to the latest steps for cybersafety, and David Grubb has been instrumental in these efforts,” Cerra said. “We’re proud to present him with the Distinguished Public Service Award and thank Dave for his efforts.”
The Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund is the largest governmental self-insurance pool for property and casualty in the country.
For more than 35 years, the MEL JIF has provided risk management, training, education, resources and guidance to municipalities, public entities and public officials across New Jersey. Since 1987, MEL JIF estimates it has saved New Jersey taxpayers over $3 billion.
Grubb, who was presented with the award during the League of Municipalities event in Atlantic City in November, said he was happy to be part of a top team.
“It has been a tremendous honor to be involved in this cooperative effort over the last almost 40 years,” he said. “I just want to share one thing I am particularly proud of: Over the course of the last 33 years, we have reduced the accident rate of municipal employees by almost 70%.
“I want to thank all of you who participated in this really incredible experience of a lifetime.”
The MEL JIF, and the name David Grubb, are well known across the state, with the MEL providing property/casualty insurance, training, education, resources and other programs to some 70% of the municipalities and local authorities in the state. However, it is a major point of pride for the MEL to have Grubb formally recognized by the League of Municipalities.
“Dave is a man who has lived a lifetime of service and cares deeply about the people of our state,” MEL JIP Chair Joy Tozzi said.
“He is a pioneer and an innovator. Not only did he recognize the need for a formalized risk management program, but using his experience in safety, investments, government and nonprofits, he had the foresight to see the potentially catastrophic budget implications public entities would face. Creating a joint insurance fund to share experiences has saved our government entities countless hours and millions of dollars.”
