PBA hopes to close negotiations by next week
By the end of next week the Glenville Police Benevolent Association hopes to have a contract in place with the town, which is the final union contract negotiation town officials are seeking to close.
We got a deal in place that we think is very generous and fair from what I understand they got that deal right now and they are looking at it and I am hopeful that they approve it, said Koetzle on Wednesday, March 9. `We will have to wait until they decide to act on the proposal in front of them. We did have an understanding that the agreement before them now was ready for ratification.`
The union members haven’t voted on a contract yet, according to Glenville PBA President Michael Lamb. The union is still in negotiations with the town, said Lamb. Currently, the PBA seems to aiming for the Town Board to vote on the contract at the upcoming meeting on Wednesday, March 16.
`There are just some things that need to tweaked on that between us and the town,` said Lamb. `I think we are working very well with the town. Being the union president is not an easy job. I found that out I can’t make everybody happy.`
Lamb became president of the PBA in January and has been trying to finalize the negotiations. While no town resident wants a tax increase, he said, the majority of union members are also residents in the town.
`Nobody wants to see a tax increase, but 70 percent of the PBA members live in this town and pay taxes too,` said Lamb. `We are continuing our efforts to work with the town and hopefully by next week we will have a signed contract.`
The supervisor had called for a Town Board special meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 9, before the work session meeting, but on the morning of March 9 the Town Clerk sent an e-mail to announce the meeting had been canceled. Only one resolution was on the special meeting agenda, which was in regards to voting on the PBA contract.
If the town isn’t able to reach an agreement with the union then negotiations would enter arbitration, but the supervisor is hoping to avoid the situation, which would have a state appointed negotiator to reach a solution.
`Historically, arbitrators have been somewhat generous to unions, but I think even they are starting to get the message of the fiscal realities of today and I hope they would be responsible in their deliberations,` said Koetzle.“