City settles contracts with police, city services union

Staff report

GIRARD

City council approved the first reading to amend the allocations of speed-camera civil penalties.

For the current allocations, 50 percent of the penalties go to the general fund, 25 percent go to the street fund, 5 percent go to the recreation fund and 20 percent go to the capital improvement fund.

If the amendment is approved, 57 percent of the penalties will go to the general fund, 30 percent will go to street and 13 percent will go to capital improvement safety funds. City Auditor Sam Zirafi recommended not allocating any more money to the recreation fund. The city did park upgrades last year.

In other business, city council also settled three-year contracts with its Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which encompasses the street, water and sewer employees.

Effective this year, employees in the OPBA union, which consists of full-time police officers and emergency dispatchers, will receive a 55-cent-per-hour raise in 2019, 50 cents in 2020 and 50 cents in 2021.

The hospitalization policy for police and dispatchers changed, just as it did for firefighters this year. If the employee’s spouse is eligible for health care at his or her employer, they must take that health care.

The AFSCME union will receive a $1 raise in 2019, 75 cents in 2020 and 25 cents in 2021.

Zirafi said he could not provide a written salary breakdown Monday night but that it would be available today.

The city also approved advertising for statements of qualifications for architect and engineering services to assess the city’s gym.