Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Tuesday was a good day for unions that represent employees of Middletown Township institutions.
Not only was a “tentative” agreement reached between the Neshaminy School District and its teachers, but Middletown officials announced that through arbitration a deal with the police officers who protect the community of 45,000 has been struck.
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According to an arbitration award issued early this week, the new four-year deal will run retroactively from 2012 to 2015. Retroactive pay increases of 3.5 percent from 2012 to 2014 are part of the agreement, while a 3.75 percent pay increase will hit in 2015.
The agreement also eliminates a 1987 Memorandum of Agreement and will allow police leadership to reduce and eliminate overtime by not calling in extra staff when officers are out. In 2012, overtime cost the township more than $115,000, according to the township.
The arbitration was the first time in more than 20 years it was needed to settle a police contract dispute in Middletown.
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“These difficult economic times compelled us to go to arbitration. It was specifically necessary because we needed to address a very expensive issue involving a 25-year-old staffing practice which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars of police overtime costs to the township,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Pat Mallon said.
While the arbitration process took more than a year, Mallon tanked the professionalism of the police officers and said it was “unfortunate” the process took so long.
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President of the Middletown police union, Officer Ed DiFrank, told PhillyBurbs.com that he was pleased overall by the arbitration award.
The arbitration award handled several other issues.
A change to severance pay protocol gets rid of what the township called a “windfall” that was previously paid out when an officer left the department voluntarily before retirement. The most recent payout of $16, 340 was given to an officer who left Middletown for a different police department.
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Use of the township gym by police officers will no longer be considered “working or on the job,” according to the arbitration award. Any officer injured while working out at the township facility must sign a waiver releasing the township from any liability. In the past, according to township documents, officers hurt at the gym were eligible for worker’s compensation.
The department will hire a civilian to act as a court coordinator, which will save the township money. The new position must first be offered to a non-disable police retiree, according to a press release. Several other Bucks County towns – Upper Southampton being one of them – have civilian court coordinators.
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Under a new law, the state will pay “Killed in Service” benefits, not the township.
New police officers probationary period will not include time spent training at the police academy. This move will give the township a full year to evaluate the street performance of the officer.
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Officers on the force are now able to opt-out for health insurance if other insurance is available from a spouse or other source. The township said the opt-out payment to officers will be $4,000 and is expected to save Middletown $15,000 or more a year.
Keeping in line with the previous contract, officers will not be required to contribute toward health care premiums. The township said all other employees contribute to their health care.
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The salary rank differential for a sergeant from a top patrol officer increased to 110 percent, according to documents.
A change in disability pension language will now limit how long the township has to re-examine an officer’s disability.
Mallon called the changes in the contract “significant” and said it will help the township better manage costs.
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“At the same time, it remains a great contract for officers, in terms of pay and benefits, when compared to other police departments,” he added.
Last month, Middletown approve a contract with Sesame Place that will fund the hiring of an additional police officer to help handle incidents at the amusement park. Residents and wives of police officer raised many concerns about the deal.
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The police department is currently staffed by 48 officers, which is down by six compared to previous years.
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