Ogdensburg OKs new contract with police supervisors

The Ogdensburg Police Supervisors' Unit has a new contract that gives members no raise in the first year and a 1.5 percent salary hike in the second.

The City Council unanimously approved the two-year contract Monday for the seven-member unit. The union had already approved it.

One change in the contract raises the retirement incentive amount from $7,500 to $10,000 if a member of the unit takes advantage of it by March 31, 2010.

Another major change is to health insurance benefits that require mandatory mail order for bulk maintenance drugs to "provide substantial savings."

Councilor Thomas A. Hannan said that he "appreciated the negotiating teams' efforts" and voiced his concerns about health insurance costs, especially those who pay nothing towards their health insurance benefits, including co-pays.

It is estimated that health care costs will be up $198,000 in 2010.