Niles council splits over mayor’s recovery plan changes

July 21, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

NILES

Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia’s proposal to reduce overtime costs by eliminating minimum manning in the safety forces got an angry response from outraged residents and a split vote from city council Wednesday.

The lawmakers voted 4-3 to move the proposal, an amendment in the city’s financial recovery plan, to a second reading. The plan is required as a blueprint for Niles to get out from under fiscal emergency where it has been since late 2014.

Residents and city employees criticized Scarnecchia for his proposal and its timing.

“Police officers are getting shot left and right,” protested Doug Sollito, a civil-service employees’ state representative, “and now the mayor says lower the security.”

“I trusted you when I voted yes [for the city income-tax increase],” said Wanda Burns, a Niles resident. “I’m having my doubts.”

The mayor argued that his proposal did not automatically reduce the number of police and firefighters on duty.

“It’s up to the chiefs’ discretion [and] they have the right to do what is necessary,” Scarnecchia said. “We’re trying to get rid of so much overtime.”

Currently, contract provisions require at least four police officers and six firefighters on duty per shift. Neither Fire Chief Dave Danielson nor acting Police Chief Capt. Jay Holland voiced support for the mayor’s efforts. Both said the numbers are already too low.

Danielson warned that if he is forced to reduce the number on duty, he will have no choice but to close the fire department substation.

“If it’s an option, I’m calling in a sixth guy,” Danielson told council. “It’s a safety issue, and I’m going to watch out for my men downtown.”

“If it’s not the intent to go below six or four, why is this an issue?” questioned Holland, who has previously criticized eliminating minimum manning.

Scarnecchia had hoped for council to pass the changes as an emergency so he could present the amended plan to the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission, which meets today. The commission oversees Niles’ finances as long as the city remains in fiscal emergency. However, the split vote negated emergency passage, which requires six votes.

The mayor is a member of the commission, as is council President Robert Marino. “I cannot envision why we would ever want less than four officers on the street [with the] vitriol police are experiencing,” Marino said.

Councilmen Barry Steffey, D-4th; Frank Pezzano, D-1st; and Ryan McNaughton, D-at large, voted against the plan change.

“From a small survey I did online and based on the number of phone calls I received, residents did not support this,” McNaughton said. “I used my vote to serve as their voice.”

“In light of the current environment, I didn’t want to take the risk,” Steffey said.

The mayor’s other amendment requires employee contributions to their monthly health care premiums, which are currently paid in full by the city. Minimum manning is contained in the police and fire labor contracts, which are in negotiations. The two sides are reportedly far apart on a number of issues, including minimum manning.

“We’re going to recover some day, and we’ll keep on trying,” Scarnecchia said after the meeting.

Council, which is in summer recess, will not meet again until Aug. 17.