Council OKs pay raises for Hubbard cops

HUBBARD -- The two unions representing city employees are now under contract.
City council approved by default Monday a fact finder's recommendation that gives police officers a 101/2-percent pay raise over three years.
The raises for members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 132 are the same percentage given in February to the 30 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1256.
The city's police department has eight patrol officers and four sergeants.
Auditor Michael Villano said police will receive 31/2 percent retroactive to Jan. 1 and 31/2 percent raises in 2004 and 2005.
Hospitalization remains the same, with no employee copayments.
Villano said patrol officers who were being paid $17.39 will now receive $17.99, and sergeants' pay will increase from $19.30 to $19.97.
Both the FOP and AFSCME contracts were recommended by a fact finder; council has no alternative but to accept them.
In both cases, lawmakers took no vote accepting the fact finder's report, allowing them to take effect automatically.