Some workers outdo bosses

Officials will meet in May to discuss township finances.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Several township employees earned more in 2003 -- salary, overtime and sick-time buyout included -- than did the township administrator, the highest-salaried employee in the township.
Salaries and other expenses caused the township expenditures to increase in 2003, even though revenue decreased.
Eight township police officers made more than $70,000 in 2003. Four road department employees made more than $70,000 in 2003; two of those employees broke the $80,000 mark.
The base salary range for township patrolmen in 2003 was $37,648 to $48,256. Ranking police officers were paid between $55,452 and $69,555. The pay scale has increased for 2004.
Township Administrator Curt Seditz ranked 13th in overall pay for township employees in 2003 with a salary of $70,068. Seditz has a contract with the township ending in 2006. He will be paid $75,190 in 2004, but his salary in the last two years of the contract still have to be negotiated.
Police Chief Jeffrey Patterson, who makes $69,897 annually, said there are several reasons behind any seemingly high salaries in the police department. The department has 63 officers.
Patterson said township officers are well-compensated. Those salaries, he said, were determined through collective bargaining and are the "mixed blessing" of the township's financial strength.
"If you cannot agree [on salary and benefits], you go to fact finding, and what has hurt Boardman over the years is Boardman has had the ability to pay," said Patterson.
"Often times, when you go to fact finding, the state says you have the ability to pay, so you must pay."
What's in contract
The last contract negotiations for township police did go to arbitration. The contract, effective in January 2003, includes shift differentials for afternoon and evening shifts, a clothing allowance, no copay for medical and dental insurance, sick-time buyout and a stipulation allowing officers to sell one week's vacation back to the township.
In 2005, the last year for the contract, police officers will make a base salary of between $40,700 and $52,200. In 2005 ranking officers will make between $57,900 and $73,403.
Patterson said offering an attractive base salary has given the police department the ability to attract and retain high-quality officers.
Patterson said there are several reasons to justify overtime -- a big factor in police department pay. One officer made more than $17,000 in overtime in 2003. Several other officers made more than $10,000 in overtime during the year.
One reason for the overtime pay, Patterson said, is that the department is understaffed with one vacancy and two officers on light duty. Overtime, he said, can be used to pick up any slack in staffing.
According to Patterson, the nationally accepted police officer-to-resident ratio is two for every 1,000 residents. With a population of more than 42,000, the township police department is short of meeting the 2-1000 ratio by about 21 officers. He said overtime is often used to make up the difference.
The department, contractually, also must have a minimum of one supervisor and five officers on any given shift. Patterson said overtime is often used to make sure the department meets that standard.
He said officers in the department also work a number of assignments, such as the Narcotics Enforcement Unit work, on an overtime basis because those officers have full-time duties. He said in these situations, paying overtime is less costly than taking on more staff.
About overtime
William Leicht, township clerk, said he and trustees agree that paying the overtime is less expensive than hiring additional officers in some situations.
"When we commit to a new employee, that employee is with us forever," he said. "In addition to the salary, there are health benefits. When we pay overtime, it is straight overtime without taking on the commitments of a full-time employee."
Road Department Superintendent Gary Dawson said any $70,000-plus earnings in the road department is largely because of the sick-time buyout stipulation in the department's contract. Employees, he said, can receive compensation for unused sick time in the last two years of their employment.
Dawson said employees can opt to take accrued sick time and basically sell it back to the township when they are nearing retirement. He said some of the time is paid at the employee's normal rate and some of it is paid at a reduced rate.
The base pay range for road department employees, Dawson said, is $22,848 to $42,163.
Dawson and three other employees were paid more than $70,000 in 2003. One of those employees made more than $80,000.
Some road department employees did increase their salaries with overtime pay. Township records show that one road department employee made more than $17,000 in overtime in 2003. Another employee made just under $17,000 in overtime.
Dawson said the sick-time buyout plan does save the township money because employees could otherwise take the sick time off and receive full pay while sitting at home. He said under the plan, less money is paid out and the employee remains on the job.
What's ahead?
Still, the compensation and other obligations are driving up township expenditures at a time when revenue is dropping. Township expenditures increased by $600,000 from 2002 to 2003. However, revenue decreased by $400,000 during that time.
Trustee Elaine Mancini said township officials are well aware of the township's financial situation. In agreement with Leicht, she said overtime is sometimes necessary and can save money, but township salary increases will need to be dealt with in the future.
"There is going to come a time when there are no raises. We don't have to give raises. There are other things we can negotiate," she said.
According to Leicht, trustees, administration and department heads will meet in May to discuss the expenditure and revenue situation in the township. He said the township will need to "put on the brakes" when it comes to spending in the future.
Leicht said a decrease in township revenue was anticipated but came sooner than expected. He said drops in personal property tax collections and inheritance tax collections were a major factor in the decreased revenue.
jgoodwin@vindy.com