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Poland township and police chief put employment terms into writing
POLAND
Township trustees this week renewed Police Chief Brian Goodin’s employment, something on which the board votes every year around this time.
This year, however, the board voted on a formal written agreement with Goodin, unlike his previous years as chief since he started the job in 2004. Prior to this year, Goodin was appointed each year at a given salary rate, with some other terms agreed to verbally, he said.
He said he asked the township to put the terms into writing due to the fact that he is approaching retirement eligibility and none of the trustees with whom he made verbal agreements remain on the board of trustees.
“I was always wanting something in writing to spell out what those things are,” he said. “When I decide to retire, I wanted to know we’re all on the same page.”
Trustee Eric Ungaro said the township also has received quite a few public-records requests for employment contracts recently, and wanted to make sure information was spelled out more clearly. He said this is “a better way of doing it.”
The memorandum of understanding approved this week, which runs through the end of the year, states the police chief is “an unclassified employee who holds his position by virtue of the appointment of the township and serves at the pleasure of the township.”
The MOU sets Goodin’s annual salary at $75,400. Goodin said this represents a $0.25-per-hour raise compared with last year.
Much of the rest of the agreement mirrors the sergeants’ unit contract.
Goodin noted one difference is his sick leave. According to his MOU with the township, he is entitled to a cash payment equal to 50 percent of his unused accumulated sick leave if he is terminated, dies, resigns or retires. Accumulation of sick leave is capped at 1,800 hours.
Another section states Goodin has the option to purchase his duty weapon and magazines from the township for $1 within 30 days of leaving his position.