Rush Township supervisors changed the township’s health insurance agent from ETA Insurance Agency to Tompkins/Gallagher Insurance.

Supervisor Ed Titus abstained from the vote, since he is employed by Tompkins/Gallagher.

“Gallagher — that I work for — has 70,000 employees worldwide. It’s not going to be me dealing with the insurance. It is going to be someone from the company I work for,” Titus said.

Township solicitor Chris Riedlinger read a letter that also disclosed the conflict of interest before the vote was taken.

“He is therefore going to abstain from voting on this motion,” Riedlinger said. “This abstention should be considered continuing in relation to any vote undertaken by the board in the future to pay any bill or any invoice of the insurance company as it becomes due.”

The vote passed 2-0 with Titus abstaining.

Riedlinger noted that Titus will not gain financially from the switch.

“So it’s basically me watching the wallet for the township,” Titus said. “That’s what I’ve done for the last 30 years — health insurance. When the quotes come out, I’ll sit down with these guys and we will figure it out. It’s a personal preference that I’d rather deal with someone from my company than who we are dealing with now.”

The policy will be up for renewal in January.

ETA will continue handling dental and vision insurances.