Youngstown council ratifies tentative pact with police

YOUNGSTOWN

City council members dealt with two issues regarding safety forces in its last meeting before its summer recess.

Council Wednesday ratified a tentative contract with the union that represents the dispatchers in the city’s 911 center and also agreed to an amendment to the city’s master salary ordinance that creates six captains in the police department, but also allows for that number to be reduced to three through attrition.

Police Chief Robin Lees said that the idea to reduce the number of positions actually was proposed by the Youngstown Police Ranking Officers union.

By reducing those positions, the city can then use the money to put more patrol officers on the street, Lees said.

“We’re top-heavy,” Lees said.

The union also agreed to create a Health Insurance Review Committee, which will study and recommend programs to lower insurance costs.

Employees will also pay 10 percent of their insurance premium, not to exceed $100 per month for a single plan and $200 for a family plan.

The contract must still be approved by the city board of control.

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.