Proposal to abolish two posts is tabled

The police department is top heavy, a city official says.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Civil Service Commission is deferring action on a controversial proposal to abolish two police sergeant positions by attrition.
The commission will wait until after the current promotion eligibility list expires June 2.
"There will be a lack of continued need for these two sergeant positions," wrote William D. Franklin, safety-service director, in a letter asking the commission to abolish them.
Franklin cited a state performance audit that recommends one supervisor for every 3.6 patrol officers. The city now has one supervisor for every 2.4 patrol officers, Franklin said.
Sixteen patrol officers passed an exam for promotion to sergeant in 2004. Three have already been promoted to sergeant, and 13 remain on the promotion eligibility list, which expires June 2. If the sergeant positions are abolished by attrition, that means they won't be filled if they become vacant.
Current numbers
The department has 72 officers, including Chief John Mandopoulos, three captains, six lieutenants and 15 sergeants. Mandopoulos has cited a consultant's report calling for at least 85 officers.
Sgt. John Burzynski, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police negotiating committee, told the commission Wednesday that the administration is attempting to use the commission to get around the union's collective bargaining process.
The number of sergeants should be a matter of labor negotiations, which will start early next year, he said. "You have a union that's willing to negotiate," he said.
As the U.S. Department of Justice investigates allegations of police misconduct and as the department tries to win the public trust, the last thing the city should do is abolish two supervisory positions, Burzynski added.
But Gary Cicero, human resources director, told the commission the makeup of the police department is a management prerogative, not a mandatory subject of bargaining. Job abolitions are the responsibility of the commission, he said.
"The department routinely functions with one rank officer on each shift with no reduction in productivity," Cicero added.
"With respect to whether or not it was a negotiable item, that's really not our decision," Atty. James A. Fredericka, commission chairman, told Burzynski.
Job applicants
Michele H. Scala, commission clerk, announced that, of the 50 people who applied to take the entry level written civil service exam for police officer Nov. 12, 44 took the exam and 31 passed. Those who passed will take a physical agility test at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 17 in Perkins Park.
The administration's budget calls for hiring at least three officers from that list next year, Franklin said.