Politics & Government

New PBA Contract Eliminates Longevity Pay

Number of rank steps increased to nine.

The Montville Township Committee voted on a new police contract with Montville PBA Local 140 Aug. 6, eliminating longevity pay and increasing the ranking steps from seven to nine.

Of the township committee members present (Committeewoman Deborah Nielsen was absent), the ordinance establishing the 2013-15 contract for employees who were hired after Jan. 1, 2013, was approved by three votes. Committeeman Don Kostka voted against the contract.

Employees who were hired prior to Jan. 1, 2013, are paid based on seven rank steps, with the highest rank, captain, earning $138,794 at the seventh step in 2013. Annual increases would have the seventh-step captains earning $144,402 in 2015 under that contract.

Under the new contract for employees who were hired after Jan. 1, 2013, which also spans from 2013-15, a ninth-step captain would earn $138,794 this year.

"We went from seven steps to nine steps and the step increases were, in the past, a little over 15 percent and now, with the nine steps, when you hire a patrolman, those steps during that nine-year period or that eight-year period work out to just shy of 12 percent," Kostka said.

"That will put our budget, in future years, under a strain."

But Township Administrator Victor Canning said the elimination of longevity pay will actually end up helping the township's budget, and taxpayers. He thanked PBA leaders for working with officials on the new contract.

"I would like to thank the PBA president and members," he said. "It's much appreciated from the township."

Committeeman Scott Gallopo asked whether the new contract was an improvement upon the four-year contract in place prior, to which Canning said it was.

"We're moving in the right direction," Committeeman Jim Sandham said.


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