Canfield officials reject findings

By Elise Franco

The city manager said Canfield wants to see a wage freeze for 2009.

CANFIELD — The city has rejected a fact finder’s recommendation of a 3 percent wage increase this year for 17 police department employees.

In his report, fact finder Nels Nelson, of Geauga County, recommended the nine full-time patrolmen, four sergeants and four dispatchers receive a 3 percent raise effective Jan. 1.

He also recommended a contract be reopened in October 2009 to discuss wages for 2010 and 2011.

City Manager Chuck Tieche said accepting the report wouldn’t be financially responsible for the city.

“Contrary to what the factfinder’s belief is, we’re concerned about our budget process,” he said. “When we look at our revenues this year and things that are going on around our general area, to project that there will be revenue increases at this point I don’t see as being very accurate.”

The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association’s position was that the raise should be granted because the city has always been well-off.

The current contract calls for a maximum wage of $51,178 for patrolmen after three years; $57,735 for sergeants after two years; and $40,902 for dispatchers after four years.

The city told the fact finder that the economic outlook for this year is poor, projecting an 8 percent decrease in income tax receipts — which would mean a loss of $200,000.

Police Chief David Blystone said he doesn’t deal directly with union negotiations and had no comment. Union president Dean Vrancic could not be reached.

Tieche said in the city’s opinion, the best case would be a wage freeze for 2009.

“We’d then look at a re-opener later in the year, probably around September,” he said. “If the revenue we’ve projected is accurate, then it’s going to indicate that wages probably should remain constant.”

Tieche said discussion about potential raises at that time would depend upon if revenue has increased and by how much.

He said he doesn’t expect an increase of much significance, though.

“The county sheriff’s department is looking at a 20 percent pay cut, and the commissioners officer has had some discussion on reduction of salaries,” Tieche said. “Seeing what’s happening in Warren and other surrounding communities makes it difficult to project revenue increases.”

He said now that the fact finder’s report has been rejected by the city, the next stage of the bargaining process is conciliation.

“The State Employment Relations Board will appoint a conciliator to review the final positions of both the bargaining unit and the city,” Tieche said. Ultimately it would make some decision with regard to that.”

Tieche said he hasn’t had any discussion with union representatives about the report or the city’s decision to reject it.

efranco@vindy.com