Fri Mar 12 2010
by Marsha McKenna
Senior Editor
Stow -- In an effort to avoid layoffs in the police department, the police union has agreed to a concession package that is estimated to save the city about $58,000.
Mayor Karen Fritschel said the union voted to eliminate the annual uniform allowance for the officers. Under their contract, officers had been receiving about $1,300 each annually for uniform maintenance.
Fritschel said she learned of the approval vote on Jan. 27.
"I really appreciate the officers' willingness to work with the city through these tough economical times," she said.
Police Chief Louis Dirker said there were only a few dissenting votes on the concessions package.
Dirker said he met with his department members and told them he thought it was "a pretty reasonable thing" to be asked to consider. "It was a very good compromise, a win-win situation," he added. "I was really proud of them."
He added the guarantee of no layoffs "made it a good deal."
The city saw a drop of about $1 million in income tax revenue in 2009, resulting in a hiring freeze; abolishment some part-time positions; establishment of a voluntary unpaid furlough leave program for city workers; and canceling most of the city's capital improvements program, which includes road restoration.
Originally, in talks with the union, the mayor asked the department to forgo their contracted pay raises, which would have generated a savings of about $80,000.
However, Fritschel said, the union rejected that request, so she asked for the elimination of the uniform allowance.
Had that been rejected, Fritschel said one or two officers would probably had to have been laid off.
"I didn't want to do that," she said. "The department would then be substantially lower than we need for a city of this size."
This will hold off any police department layoffs "unless something drastic happens," she added.
Fritschel said she is also meeting with AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and fire department union reps to discuss concessions. AFSCME is considering a package and will vote soon; meetings with the fire department are beginning.
The mayor said she is "hopeful" for those talks because of the success with the police department.
Non-union city employees will not be getting pay raises in 2010, the mayor noted, and are also filling in on other duties as needed.
"The employees have bent over backwards to help out," Fritschel commented. "I'm really impressed with our employees. They have really stepped up to the plate."
E-mail: mmckenna@recordpubcom
Phone: 330-686-3918
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