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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-05-2018 PBA Minutes - Not SignedCITY OF SEBASTIAN PBA UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JUNE 5, 2018 Present: Al Boettjer, Staff Representative, Coastal Florida PEA Union Representative, 810 Fentress Court, Daytona Beach, FL 32117 Paul Carlisle, City Manager, City of Sebastian Ken Killgore, Administrative Services Director, City of Sebastian Cynthia Watson, HR Manager, City of Sebastian Ken McDonough, Union Representative, Sebastian Police Department Janet Graham, Technical Writer This is the first contract negotiation of 2018, City of Sebastian and the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association, and the parties are present to discuss the wage opener for this year. Mr. Boettjer has talked with the members of the union and Ke n McDonough, union representative. Mr. Boettjer reviewed some of the history of the Police Department having to do with furloughs when there were no increases in salary. There were several issues that came up as a result of revenue. He stated the membership would like to see some improvement in their benefits. They are requesting that the City consider a 6% i ncrease for the sworn personnel. Mr. McDonough explained there was a period of five years where they had no increase , and during two of those years there were 96 -hour furloughs for each officer during which time they were not paid. They realize during that time there was a recession, but now the economy is much better. They have gotten two 3% raises over the last two years, and the money that was given up due to furloughs cannot be recouped. He further stated they have lost their step plan over the last eight years so that new hires are making approximately 50 cents less than the officers who are now training them. He has discussed this matter with other d epartments in the area, and those other departments have now implemented a new step plan. He described some of the other departments' step plans; however, he is not presenting that matter for discussion at this time. The 6% proposed increase is based on the economy now being better and the City may be in a better financial position. He stated the Police Department is an important part of the City, and a good police department will help to guarantee the safety of the residents. Mr. Boettjer discussed that in almost every other unit incentives are in place such as special assignment pay. There are also incentive-pay issues that can enhance salaries. Mr. Killgore stated that he agreed to having this meeting, wanting to hear what the case might be, but he does not feel able to negotiate at this point because the City is still in budget preparation. Mr. Boettjer stated he is aware that the City is still working on their PBA UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATION PAGE 2 Minutes of Regular Meeting budget, but the union membership felt that having a meeting now, before their budget workshops are held, will let the City know what the union's feelings are. Mr. Carlisle stated regarding furloughs, they are better than layoffs, and the City was trying to cut down on layoffs during that period, although he was not here then. Ms. Watson addressed the subject of the 50-cent difference between new hires and older employees. She stated that this was taken care of by giving some of the older employees an extra 3%. There was discussion among those present regarding this issue and how it could be addressed in the future. Mr. Carlisle stated that changes were incrementally made to the step plan, and that is where the problem started. Mr. Boettjer stated the step plan was a causative factor, and it will take a prolonged period of time to get this problem worked out to where the step plan is fixed. He described how Vero Beach is handling it—implementing a plan more like a military pay plan where in the different ranks there are different pay rates. Mr. Carlisle stated the City has to look at the challenges being faced by the City. The money for new equipment such as police cars, protective gear, weapons, and sal aries has to come from the City's budget, and the City wants to make sure that their officers are properly equipped, but the City's budget has to be balanced, and all those things have to be taken into consideration. Mr. McDonough opined that when decisions are made as to what equipment, etc. is to be provided, those decisions are made by someone outside the Police Department, and maybe some of those decisions need to be revisited to decide whether they are appropriate. Mr. Killgore stated that Sebastia n gets a good number of applicants for their jobs, so there is probably not an issue of incentives, etc. Mr. McDonough stated that Sebastian's community atmosphere is a positive one, so that applicants want to come here; it isn't just about the money. Mr. Carlisle agreed that job satisfaction and quality of life are also important factors in people deciding to come to Sebastian. Mr. Killgore gave the example of what was done this year on the pension plan. Mr. Boettjer went on to describe some facets of a pension plan and how that money is distributed. Mr. Killgore stated that his understanding is that a lot of these things regarding the pension plan were on the table long before the recession, i.e. the COLA benefit, etc. Mr. Boettjer described how the State mandated how pension plan funds are to be distributed; otherwise, the plan would be in default. That issue has been resolved. Ms. Watson asked what years the furloughs occurred, as she was not at the City then. Mr. Boettjer answered 2006-2009. Ms. Watson questioned whether anyone after the furloughs should get 6%. Mr. Carlisle added that the whole country was in a recession PBA UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATION PAGE 3 Minutes of Regular Meeting over that period, and he doesn't think the City should have to go back over the last 10 years and make up for what the whole country was enduri ng economically. Mr. McDonough stated they are not asking for the City to go back and make up that money. He also mentioned that the furloughs affected pension money that will never be recouped. Mr. Killgore stated that the matter must be taken into consideration city wide, not just the Police Department. Mr. McDonough gave the example that, when he worked in the City of New York, the police departme nt argued and won that the police department was more important than other departments, including the fire department, sanitation, etc. Mr. Carlisle countered that no one department is more important than all the others. Mr. McDonough stated the 6% figure was not arrived at to make up for the years in the past where there were furloughs, etc. It is a figure that he feels will help keep the Department healthy and active and keep people there. Mr. Carlisle described how the City will have to provide the additional State-mandated School Resource Officers (SROs), the cost of which the City will have to fund 50%. The Police Department has requested additional personnel , which will mean more support in the way of vehicles, etc., which all goes into the budget. Mr. Boettjer addressed the subject of the SROs, and what will have to go into providing those people such as training, etc. He stated that in some communities these SROs will get incentive pay, but only while they are SROs. He described how this position was addressed in the Brevard County Sheriff's Department, and that there is much interest among the membership to get those positions because of the totality of the pay. But those applicants must meet the requirements, inclu ding physical agility testing, which is a problem for some of the older employees. Ms. Watson stated that the City police officers do get longevity pay. Mr. McDonough described how there are differences of opinion within the Department concerning what is really necessary in the way of additions/improvements to the Department and changes that are made by administration. Mr. Boettjer stated all contracts have the "Management Rights Clause," which allows administration to make these decisions, and it is not contractual. However, if administration makes a decision that adversely affects the contract in some way or puts an officer in danger, then it can be grieved, and he is not aware of any success in trying to arbitrate a management right. Mr. McDonough reiterated the reasons the 6% figure was arrived at, and Mr. Carlisle stated the City cannot make any decisions until the entire City budget is studied. Mr. McDonough said he understands that. Mr. Boettjer stated that the membership complained in earlier negotiations that there was not an early meeting so that the City knew what the expectation was, and that is why this meeting was arranged. Mr. Carlisle brought up the idea of merit-based pay. Mr. Boettjer stated that in the past across-the-board raises and merit-based raises were looked at, but the City did not PBA UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATION PAGE 4 Minutes of Regular Meeting have the funds to do that. Mr. Carlisle stated he was only talking about merit -based raises. Mr. Boettjer stated merit-based raises are very difficult to do without being subjective. Ms. Watson asked that the Vero Beach plan be brought to the City so that they can look at it. Mr. McDonough stated he has information on it, but he did not b ring it today, as this is only a preliminary meeting. He inquired as to, if the City comes up with a percentage raise, whether there could be a merit -based raise if the employee successfully passes his/her evaluation. Mr. Boettjer said if the City needs information on incentive pay, he will be happy to provide it, as he has it from multiple agencies. He also mentioned that every year he requests a copy of the proposed budget so he can see where the money is going and discuss it with the membership, and he complimented the City for their handling of the COLA situation with the Police Department in the past. Mr. Carlisle appreciated the candor from everyone at this meeting, but there are other departments that the City has to consider, and the City has to come up with a plan that considers everyone and balance that with the ability to pay for it. Mr. Boettjer concluded the meeting at 3:30 p.m.