Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • May 25, 2011 Mahwah Township council approves new union contracts by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council voted 4-3 to approve new twoyear contracts for the township’s white and blue collar units of the United Public Service Employees Union and the Mahwah Policemen’s Benevolent Association. Council Members Samuel Alderisio, Lisa DiGiulio, Charles Jandris, and Roy Larson voted in favor of the agreements, while Council President John Roth and Councilmen John Spiech and Harry Williams voted against the agreements. Roth explained that the complexity of the contracts would result in some employees getting raises far in excess of two percent, which will place a big burden on the township to meet its budget cap in the future. “When I look at the financial impact of those contracts moving forward,” Roth explained, “the cost of those contracts will be inconsistent with our ability to stay within the two percent state-mandated cap.” Spiech said he was opposed to using additional funds from the township’s surplus to cover the cost of these contracts. Williams said he felt the township conceded too much when these contracts were settled, and he also opposed using more money from surplus to cover the cost of the contracts. The new contracts will cover the period from Jan. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2012, and each contract contains a salary guide that increases annually with a negotiated rate and enables all covered employees to reach the top wage of their title in a structured time frame. According to the salary guides, the salary increases each year are greater than the 2.5 percent salary increase an employee will receive when he or she reaches the top of his or her salary guide. Those employees who receive a step increase in 2011 and who receive a step increase in 2012 will not receive an across the board general wage increase in the year the step increase is implemented. However, those employees who are at the top of their salary guide will receive a 2.5 percent increase on July 1, 2011 and on July 1, 2012. Under the white collar unit agreement, employees are categorized by title into six classes, each with 10 levels. After an employee’s initial placement on the guide, the employee will advance one level on the guide for each completed year of service with the township based upon that employee’s anniversary of hire. On July 1, 2011, the salary range for Class One will be from $28,802 to $43,361 and from $62,671 to $78,692 for Class Six. Under the blue collar unit agreement, employees are also categorized by class, and the salary guides are different depending on the employee’s date of hire before or after Jan. 1, 1999. The salary guide for blue collar employees hired before Jan. 1, 1999 consists of eight steps and will range from $29,993 to $46,116 for Class One and $66,651 to $83,689 for Class Six on July 1, 2011. The employee’s move from level to level will occur on the anniversary of his or her hire. Blue collar employees hired after Jan. 1, 1999 will be subject to a 10-step salary guide and will range from $25,632 to $46,116 for Class One and $62,291 to $83,689 for Class Six on July 1, 2011. The employee’s move from level to level will occur on the anniversary of his or her hire. The PBA agreement also contains a salary scale in which patrol officers advance in salary each year until they complete six years of service. Police officers who have served more than six years will receive a 2.5 percent salary increase on July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012. In addition, all police officers who have completed 23 years of police service will receive a base salary increase of $2,000 per year thereafter. On July 1, 2011, a patrol officer who has served six months will receive a salary of $41,854. That salary will rise to $124,679 after six years of service. Detectives will receive a salary of $128,700; sergeants, $132,718; detective sergeants, $136,734; lieutenants, $140,753; and detective lieutenants, $144,771. The current 12-hour police work schedule will remain in effect for the duration of this agreement. Police officers will receive time and one half pay for overtime and double time for duty on a regularly scheduled day off that falls on a holiday and for work in excess of 16 consecutive hours in a work day. 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