Resident questions clause in police contract extension

One supervisor said the clause would not be a problem.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A police contract extension approved last month by a split vote of Union Township supervisors contains a clause that would financially penalize the township if there was any attempt to cut the police force or regionalize the police department.
Resident Leo "Dutch" Carlin asked at Tuesday's meeting why the contract extension contains the clause.
If the township cuts its police force or decides to regionalize, the clause requires the township to pay a police chief younger than the retirement age of 65 his base annual salary times the number of years left until retirement.
Similarly, the extension requires the township to pay a patrolman younger than the contract age of retirement -- which is 55 -- his base annual salary times the number of years he has left before retirement.
Supervisor Steve Galizia, who was defeated in November for re-election, responded to Carlin, "When would this ever become a problem?"
After the meeting, Galizia explained it is unlikely that the township's police department would ever be disbanded or that layoffs would ever be necessary because of the growing need for police.
He said the three-paragraph clause would never become a reality unless future supervisors "get stupid."
Galizia and Supervisor Pat Angiolelli in November approved a a six-year department contract extension. Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh voted against it.
Clair "Sonny" Damon, who defeated Galizia for supervisor, said last month the extension ties the hands of the new board of supervisors for six years, and he has said he will pursue legal action against Galizia and Angiolelli because of it.