Boardman cops hope ranks swell with pact

The new contract will net officers a $500 signing bonus if there’s no state fiscal watch by Dec. 1.

By Denise Dick

BOARDMAN — Members of the township’s police patrol union hope a new contract, calling for a lower starting wage for new officers, enables more officers to be hired and put on the road.

Township trustees approved the pact 3-0 at their regular meeting Wednesday night. The union, Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, approved it 23-4 with one member abstaining.

“The patrol union really stepped up to the plate,” said Administrator Jason Loree. “They understand the township’s financial condition.”

The union has been working under a contract that expired Dec. 31. The new agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2009, expires Dec. 31, 2011.

In July, the patrol officers overwhelmingly rejected a fact finder’s report, and the two sides headed to binding arbitration.

Chuck Mound, co-director of the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Patrol Unit, said 19 issues remained to be settled in arbitration. Both sides have been meeting for the last couple of weeks to try to resolve those issues.

“I actually believe that the township came in our direction on all of the 19 points,” Mound said.

The union co-director also pointed to the township’s finances.

Three contracts ago, the township had more than $20 million in inheritance tax, Mound said. The township used inheritance-tax money to fund operations. Today, the township no longer receives inheritance tax at that level.

Union members also get a $500 signing bonus each, but the bonus applies only if the township hasn’t been declared in fiscal watch or emergency by Dec. 1.

The state auditor’s office is conducting an analysis of township finances to determine if it’s at the brink of fiscal watch or emergency.

Voters last year approved a 2.2-mill police and fire levy that was projected to generate about $2 million annually, but officials have said revenues have come in lower than expected because of the economic downturn.

“I just want to commend the patrol officers and their leadership,” said Trustee Chairman Larry Moliterno.

Efforts to work together will strengthen the community in the future, he said.

The July fact-finder report had recommended a lower starting wage for new officers, about $14.90 per hour, compared with about $22 per hour under the previous contract.

The union and township split the difference, agreeing on a starting wage of about $16 per hour for new hires.

Under the former contract, an officer would earn about $58,700 annually after being employed by the township for four years, said Atty. Mike Esposito, the township’s contract negotiator. The new agreement means it will take about 18 years for an officer to reach that level of pay.

The attorney said he believes union members want to see more officers hired. But they realized it wasn’t possible for the township to hire the number of officers they wanted under the current pay schedule, Esposito said.

Mound said officers want to see new hires. With officers just responding to one call after another, it doesn’t allow time for more proactive police work, he said.

Union members also will pay a 10 percent health-insurance contribution, up from about 7.5 percent, which will be uncapped. Paid holidays will drop from 11 to 10.

It also reduces from 12 to eight the number of sergeant positions. Two of those 12 are vacant. Those two will be eliminated, and the others will go away through attrition.

The minimum manning required per shift drops from six to five.

“That’s really only become a problem since we’ve gone from 63 officers to 47 officers,” Mound said, referring to officers who retired or resigned and haven’t been replaced during the last three years.

“We’ve lost a third of our department,” he said.

denise_dick@vindy.com

Township trustees and the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which represents township patrol officers, have reached a three-year contract. Some highlights:

No raises over the life of the pact although step increases still apply.

Officers hired during the contract term will earn about $16 per hour, compared with about $22 per hour for a new hire under the previous contract.

Under the previous pact, an officer would earn about $58,700 after four years with the township. Under the new contract, it will take about 18 years to reach that level.

Officers will contribute 10 percent toward their health-care premium, which will be uncapped.

The contract reduces from 11 to 10 the number of paid holidays per year.

The pact decreases from six to five the minimum-manning requirement for officers per shift.

Source: Township and union officials