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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/17/1981CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 17, 1981 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, March 17, 1981 at 8:30 P.M. in the Police Department Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Vice Chairman Flaherty, Martin Paulsen, William Burgess and John Towne were present when the meeting was called to order at 8:30 P.M. by Mr. Flaherty. Chairman Farrar arrived at 9:15 P.M. and chaired the meeting until adjournment. Members Absent None Others Present Lansing Reinholz, Kevin Hayes, Stephen Burke, Robert Hawke, Jr., Thomas Fraga. Mr. Reinholz asked for some figures on the dental plan, saying it looked as though the benefits were better but he couldn't tell for sure. Mr. Flaherty said the proposal has a deductible and then pays 100% per person after the deductible amount is met. Also, if the union feels it is not a superior plan, it could opt to have the cost added to their salary which would amount to about 1/4 to 3/10 of 1%. He understood that one of the union members had discussed the plan with Mr. Stearns, the insurance company representative. He was told that no one had contacted Mr. Stearns. Mr. Reinholz asked the Council to check the plan further with Mr. Stearns and report on it at the next meeting. Mr. Reinholz said they were prepared to make a counter offer on Article 9, Section 15, noting that the city's offer was as follows: For 1981-1982 detectives will receive $25 per week when 3 or more officers are assigned to detective duty; $35 per week when 2 or more officers are assigned to detective duty, and $50 per week when only one officer is assigned to detective duty. Mr. Reinholz said they would accept the proposal as written with the following stipulations: 1. Only detectives in the bargaining unit would be counted, not detective sergeants. 2. Juvenile officers would not be counted in the total number regardless of title. 3. The new schedule would take effect at 0100 hours on March 31, 1981. Mr. Flaherty pointed out that some of the city's budget figures were not yet finalized and questioned the March 31st deadline. Mr. Reinholz said that if the contract is not negotiated by April 17th the section will be open to re-negotiation. Mr. Reinholz brought up the subject of the shortcomings in the make-up of the city's merit plan. He presented an evaluation and noted the contradictions in the marks given and the remarks noted. Mr. Flaherty agreed that by June 30th the merit system criteria should be clarified. Mr. Reinholz noted that the union contract calls for in-training target practice and the men are not getting it. In discussing the disability retirement section Mr. Reinholz cited the many dangers inherent in police work and said there should be some protection beyond Workman's and Disability Compensation programs. Mr. Flaherty said we try to look at what competitive departments get, if we are at the same rate we don't feel we have to negotiate it. Mr. Reinholz pointed out that Milton had better rates and other departments also must offer better benefits and/or wages since South Burlington has an excessive turnover of Police Department employees leaving to go with other departments. He felt the city's offer amounts to between 7% and 8% this year, that the union would lose another 5% this year since the offer does not keep up with the cost-of-living figure. He felt that negotiations were at an impasse at this point. Mr. Burgess pointed out that the percentage of increase was better than a lot of people in the area would be receiving and wondered if the police department would entertain the idea of going to the people for a raise. He said the city has a lot of fixed expenses in its budget and mentioned the CCTA request for $81,000. He felt the city has to set priorities. Mr. Flaherty said he thought the increase in wages and benefits were closer to 10%, but he didn't have any figures available. At 9:10 P.M. the bargaining unit asked to have a caucas, and when the meeting reconvened at 9:25 P.M., Chairman Farrar took the chair. The question of the dental program was discussed again and Mr. Farrar said he would get more information on it from Mr. Stearns. He also said he was working on getting the total benefit package together as soon as he got more information on Social Security benefits. Mr. Reinholz asked that the information on the dental program, and the payroll and social security benefit package be sent to the bargaining unit. Mr. Reinholz then remarked that he believed they were at an impasse. We are not that far apart but it looks as though we are not going anywhere. He said he would be available for another meeting if the Council wanted to meet, saying he would be busy every Monday and Wednesday during the month of April and that he was free on Friday of this week. He further reminded the Council that there was a deadline for signing the contract. On motion made, seconded and so moved the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 P.M. Approved Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.