TRUMBULL COUNTY Police hope to stop layoffs, demotions

The police department administrators also are taking a wage freeze.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield Township police officers have agreed to take a wage freeze until March 1, 2006, along with other concessions.
The police officers did so to avoid layoffs and demotions of any full-time personnel.
The township trustees accepted the department's action at their Thursday meeting through a memorandum of understanding. The agreement was hammered out after negotiation sessions with police and trustees over the past weeks.
Affected by the wage freeze are the department's nine patrolmen; among them are two lieutenants, said James Stoddard, trustee chairman.
Patrolmen now make $17.18 an hour, and lieutenants make $19.13 an hour.
Capt. Michael Naples and Police Chief Joseph Consiglio, who are under administrative contracts, also have agreed to take the wage freeze and give up 50 percent of their uniform cleaning allowance.
Consiglio makes $48,160 a year, and Naples makes $43,570 a year.
The current three-year police contract does not expire until June 30, 2006.
Officers approved the wage freeze in an effort to avoid layoffs or demotion of any full-time officers. Should trustees take action later to demote or lay off an officer, the memorandum can be voided.
The township police department is represented by the Ohio Patrolman's Benevolent Association.
Projected benefits
Stoddard said, "This will help us, even though the township won't know until it actually receives its payments what its tax revenue will be. These efforts are in advance of the end of the year."
Stoddard added that the trustees already have been making every effort to save money in the police budget and "everywhere else."
"Times are tough," the chairman said, adding that there have been reductions in funds to the township from the state and other sources. He said trustees may put a police levy on the May 2005 ballot, but they have not yet determined the amount.
The township police department's last levy was a 1.8-mill continuous levy that voters approved in May 1998.