Ramsey October 21, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Police contract in state-level appeal process Ramsey Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 155 has opted to appeal a state arbitrator’s ruling on a new contract, and is now awaiting a decision by the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission. PBA Local 155 and Ramsey’s borough officials held informal mediation sessions in July, August, and October of 2007, and an interest arbitration hearing was held in February of 2008. The case subsequently ended up in binding arbitration, with James W. Mastriani rendering the decision that is now under appeal. A source familiar with the negotiations indicated that the crux of the matter is a regulation that requires PBA members to pay into their health benefits packages for the first time. Mastriani recommended a five-year contract that would include four percent salary increases for 2007, 2008, and 2009, and 3.75 percent increases for 2010, and 3.5 percent in 2011. The arbitrator’s ruling would require those who receive medical and dental benefits to select a 90/70 plan or a 100/80. These PPOs (preferred provider organizations) would be offered through Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield. According to the New Jersey PERC website, the 90/70 plan would require a family to pay $32.50 per pay period in 2010. A parent/child would pay $20, and a single person would pay $11.25. The 100/80 plan would require PBA members to contribute $137.50 for a family’s health benefits per pay period in 2010, $87.50 for a parent and child, and $47.50 for a single person. The website indicates that the PBA had requested a sixyear contract covering the years 2007 through 2012, with pay increasing across the board by 4.8 percent, 4.9 percent, 5.0 percent, 5.1 percent, 5.2 percent, and 5.3 percent during the length of the contract. The PBA also requested that Thanksgiving and Easter be added to the official schedule of paid holidays. The borough had offered 2.5 percent increases for the years 2007 through 2010. The borough also sought to create a 10-step salary guide for those hired after Jan. 1, 2008 and a new five-step guide for lieutenants and sergeants. In addition, sick leave pay would be capped when an officer left the department’s employment. Both sides are now awaiting a decision from the state. We Now Carry Available in Mahwah store only ��� ComForcare Assisted Living in Your Own Home • Personal Care • Meal Preparation • Light Housekeeping • Medication Reminders • Hourly & Live-In • Licensed, Bonded & Insured Home Care $ LARGE CHEESE PIE Limited time offer, not to be combined with any other offer. 1 Off FREE Serving Bergen & Passaic Counties Upper Saddle River Office 201-962-3222 201-529-5711 115 Franklin Tpke. A&P Shopping Ctr. MAHWAH ���������������������������� Coupons not accepted for Ugg purchases ������ ���� ��������������� ����������������� DELIVERY Limited time offer, not to be combined with any other offer. ������������ �������������� ������������������ ����������������� 9-23-09 Mike/Janine An Open Letter ComForcare2x2(9-23-09) from Mahwah Councilman Rob Hermansen... 2x2 Three and a half years ago I appealed to you to consider me for Councilman in Mahwah. I am honored to be serving our town as your Council Vice-President and liaison to our Board of Education. On November 3rd Mahwah and Bergen County will decide what direction they want Bergen County to go. It is clear we need more oversight on the county level. We need someone on the Board who will put the taxpayers first. Here is what I will do, I will take a 25% pay cut the first day in office and ask my fellow Freeholders to do the same. We can not ask our Bergen County residents to tighten their belts without the Freeholders tightening ours first. I will be a voice of reason when it comes to the County government. I will ask the questions of why we are raising our budgets on average by almost double digits each year. The most recent budget passed by the Freeholders took less than 3 minutes to pass. When it comes to spending taxpayer money, I will not pass a resolution that authorizes the spending of taxpayer money without completely understanding it. I will go line item by line item over the budget just as we do in Mahwah to see where we can save money for our taxpayers. I now appeal to you to please come out and support John Driscoll and myself on November 3rd for Bergen County Freeholder. This county needs a fresh approach one where the taxpayer comes first. Together, we will win in November! Sincerely yours, Mahwah Councilman ������������������� ��������������������� ������������������� Robert G. Hermansen Paid for by Rob Hermansen for Freeholder www.VoteHermansen.com 10-21-09 janine