43
Council rejects proposal to renegotiate police contract
By jeanne starmack
campbell
City council rejected a proposal that would have taken its fight against the police department’s new contract out of court and back into negotiations.
Otto Holm, the union representative for police in contract negotiations, asked council at its caucus meeting Wednesday to go back into negotiations.
“If you want to continue the fight, your most cost- effective way is taking it back to collective bargaining,” Holm said.
In its regular meeting after the caucus, council unanimously rejected the offer and a new tentative contract Mayor George Krinos had attached to it.
Council did so on the advice of its legal counsel, Clemans-Nelson and Associates, said council President William VanSuch. Clemans-Nelson specializes in labor and contract issues.
VanSuch added that the proposal and the tentative agreement did not go far enough to address council’s concerns.
City Law Director Mark Kolmacic said it’s his understanding that Clemans-Nelson doesn’t believe the proposal gives enough latitude to council in the negotiation process.
Council was concerned about $1-an-hour raises the new contract, signed in July, gives to half of the city’s 12 full-time officers. The raises bring lower-paid officers’ salary in line with the remaining officers’ pay.
The contract also takes away council’s right to determine staffing levels in the police department, giving that right to the mayor instead. Council argues that the city’s home-rule charter gives it the right.
Council also objected to being shut out of the negotiation process. A state-appointed conciliator decided the pay issue. Council filed for an order to vacate the conciliator’s award in October in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.