Glenville supervisor says police union’s request for a mediator ‘bizarre’
The Glenville Police Benevolent Association, which has largely remained silent during contract negotiations, is now speaking out about the process and the town’s call for health-care concessions.
The police union released a statement on Saturday, Oct. 30, saying its members were unhappy the negotiations regarding health insurance increases and salaries. The PBA declared an impasse on contract negotiations and are seeking the New York State Public Employment Relations Board to provide a mediator to help both parties reach a settlement.
I am surprised and disappointed in this action, said Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle. `We were feeling positive about it [the negotiation process], and for this to come at this juncture is bizarre.`
Koetzle said a mediator isn’t necessary to complete negotiations, and an agreement could be reached that is fair and affordable. He said a mediator would only lengthen the process.
Detective William Marchewka, president of the Glenville Police Benevolent Association, said public statements made by Koetzle at Town Board meetings and to the media about negotiation conflicts upset him, and the unions were not to blame for the unsuccessful negotiations.
`He blamed the unions for stalling negotiations and threatened us with layoffs,` said Marchewka in a prepared statement. `We are not the problem. Our Association proposed concessions in health insurance and modest salary increases that would have saved the town money. Town negotiators did not bother to respond to us so we filed for mediation.`
Koetzle said there have been no threats of layoffs or reductions. He also said only two weeks have passed since their previous meeting with the union, but as a public governing body, they are limited to when they can meet.
`We were making progress; we were set to bring a proposal back to them,` said Koetzle.
Thomas Jordan, attorney for the PBA, said no reasonable counter offer has be given by the town.
Marchewka said the PBA has a long history of working with the town to reach contract negotiations in difficult financial times, but he criticized the town during the past two negotiations for hiring attorneys from outside of the town. This is the current administration’s first time dealing with contract negotiations.
`The negotiations have been adversarial and contentious,` said Marchewka in a statement. `The Association has good reason to believe that these attorneys were brought in to cut our staff and reduce our benefits and compensation.`
Koetzle said the Town Board has a responsibility to hire the best attorneys to represent the residents. Marchewka said that money would be better spent putting new police officers on the streets.
`We are already paid less than other police offers in other towns,` said Marchewka. `The money spent on these outside attorneys should have been used to hire new officers and compensate us for what we do.`
After a police officer is on the job for four years, there is a base pay of $65,000, said Koetzle, which doesn’t include overtime or benefits. Koetzle said there might be towns that pay officers more, but he also knew of towns paying officers less than what Glenville offers.
Glenville doesn’t provide paid health insurance to police officers retiring before the age of 55 Marchewka said it is one of the few towns that don’t do this practice. Koetzle estimated to provide this paid insurance would cost the town over $3 million, which is not something he believes the town can afford.
Marchewka said town officials blame unions for budgetary problems, but this isn’t correct.
`Other nearby towns are finding ways to reasonably compensate their employees and adequately staff their departments, but our town officials are content to blame the unions for their difficulties. Our residents deserve better than that,` said Marchewka.
Koetzle said he hopes to reach negotiations before the 2011 budget is approved on Nov. 17, so he could include any savings the town would incur and add any raises that would be given.
`I feel very confident that we can get a deal with all three unions within the time frame we set forth,` said Koetzle. `If they want to come back to the table and talk, we are sitting at the table waiting for them.“