City Council Approves New Police Contracts

The City Council unanimously approved a between the city and the police unions on Wednesday night. Council members Michael Russo and Theresa Castellano abstained because of conflicts of interest.

This will include $3 million in back pay being paid in retroactive raises to members of the department.

Much of this memorandum was the same as the one that was signed by then-State Fiscal Monitor Judy Tripodi in March 2010.  

The difference lies in the level of the raise the officers get. The police officers had been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2007.

Police Benevolence Association President Vince Lombardi called the memorandum “fair.”

Under the new agreement, the city will save substantial health care cost every month. If the memorandum of understanding would have been signed in March 2010, the city would have saved roughly $500,000 in health care costs until the end of the term of the contract, said Mayor Dawn Zimmer in an e-mail.

But, Zimmer said, the new MOU saves the city $700,000. These savings are established because the raises for the salaries are 1,5 percent lower in the new agreement than under Tripodi.

"As a result of the delay, the City was able to begin receiving the 1 ½ percent healthcare payroll contribution a year and a half earlier," Zimmer wrote. "By not entering into the contract at that time, the City gained an additional $337,500 to offset healthcare costs."

Zimmer continued, "the 1 ½ percent healthcare contributions was implemented citywide immediately upon its passage last spring.  Had there been a union contract in effect at the time, implementation would not have been permitted until the contract expired."

Police Superior Officer Association President Edmond Drishti went in front of the council to express his content that an agreement was reached. He added that he will be fully happy once all his officers are promoted back to their original rank.