UNION TOWNSHIP Police contract provides pension but contains some concessions

A Bob Evans Restaurant will be built in the township.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors have approved a three-year police contract containing both concessions and new benefits.
The contract, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, freezes wages this year and grants 5 percent increases in 2005 and 2006.
For the first time, the contract provides a pension plan for full-time officers. The only provision for retirement in previous contracts was an Individual Retirement Account provided to Police Chief Joe Lombardo, which amounted to 3 percent of his salary.
Part-time officers will relinquish all their paid holidays under the new contract.
Supervisors Steve Galizia and Pat Angiolelli approved the contract Tuesday. The third supervisor, Kevin Guinaugh, was unable to attend the meeting, but Galizia said Guinaugh had reviewed and agreed with the new contract.
Additional business
They also approved a subdivision plan for the Bob Evans Restaurant that officials have announced will be built west of the Wendy's on U.S. Route 224.
A restaurant spokesman said the planned 5,400-square-foot brick structure will seat 155. He said it is expected to be completed by September and will employ 75 to 95 full- and part-time workers.
Supervisors also chose Youngblood Paving Inc., New Castle, to do the summer street-paving project. The approval is contingent on the engineer's review of the bid. Youngblood, at $47,478, was the lowest of three bidders. The other bids were from Robert Retort Sr. Paving and Construction of New Castle, $66,997, and I.A. Construction, Ellwood City, $67,515.
Paving will start as soon as possible, Galizia said. Streets to be paved include the portion of Camden Avenue near Union Area High School, Clarkson Avenue from the bend to West State Street, Burns Street from Scotland Lane east to the end, and Coverts Road from West Washington Street to the new bridge.
Supervisors also announced that Highmark/Blue Shield has raised rates for employee hospitalization 13 percent for the coming year. In spite of the increase, Galizia said the township will save some money on hospitalization costs because Secretary-Treasurer Cathy Schmidt is opting out of the insurance, saving $7,255 per year.