Campbell council to vote on raises for 6 cops

By jeanne starmack

starmack@vindy.com

campbell

City council will vote on a new police contract that gives raises to six police officers, even though an arbitrator already ordered the pay increases.

If council rejects the contract, the issue will end up in court because the arbitrator’s decision is binding, said city law director Mark Kolmacic.

Kolmacic said council has 30 days after notification of the order, which was Aug. 4, or until its next regu-lar meeting to vote. If it doesn’t vote, the contract is automatically accepted.

Council President William VanSuch said Tuesday that council will vote on the contract at its Sept. 1 meeting. Mayor George Krinos waived fact-finding in the contract negotiations, which shut council out of deciding whether to spend money for raises, Kolmacic said.

“He has the right to do that as chief executive,” Kolmacic added. “Council has the right to attack the contract in a court proceeding.”

Krinos would not comment on why he waived fact finding, saying he’s not sure he can discuss details of the negotiations.

The two-year contract, signed July 27, takes away a two-tier system for the city’s 12 officers and gives them parity. Officers hired after 2005 were paid less because of the city’s financial distress, Kolmacic explained.

The contract also takes away council’s right to decide how many officers the police department should have, giving that right instead to the mayor. That also concerns council members, Kolmacic said.

VanSuch said he believes most council members don’t want to give up that right. The city’s charter gives council the right. A court may have to decide between the charter and the contract, Kolmacic said.

The new raises will cost the city $16,500 in salaries and benefits, said Finance Director Sherman Miles.

Annual salaries are detective sergeant, $40,045; senior patrolman, $35,620; patrolman, $34,580; and cadet, $30,080.