Canton village officials tackle employee contracts

CANTON — Village officials met behind closed doors Wednesday trying to hammer out new contracts for three groups of employees, including village police officers who have been working under a contract that expired more than two years ago.

Mayor Charlotte C. Ramsay said contract issues for the Canton Police Association and for village Department of Public Works employees were discussed during the special meeting.

"We discussed the offers we would make for all three," Mrs. Ramsay said.

She declined to release specific information about contract offers and the board did not take any action in public session following the 90-minute executive session.

While both the police union and the village say they want a negotiated settlement, the union declared contract impasse after three mediation sessions failed to produce a contract acceptable to both sides.

Most of the negotiations with the village officials have been handled by Anthony V. Solfaro, president of the state Union of Police Associations Inc., Albany.

Louis Patack, an arbitrator, has been assigned by the state Public Employment Relations Board to help hammer out a deal, but arbitration hearing dates have not yet been finalized, Mr. Solfaro said.

"We had extensive mediation — three sessions — that unfortunately, at this point, weren't successful," Mr. Solfaro said Wednesday.

After impasse was declared, the village hired Daniel McKillop of North Country Labor Relations Consultants, Lake Placid, to assist the village in negotiations. Mrs. Ramsay and trustee Steve Putman have represented the village during talks with the police union over the past two years.

The police association represents seven police officers and2.5 dispatchers who have been working under four-year contracts that started June 1, 2004, and expired May 31, 2008.

Although they are represented by the same union, the police officers and the dispatchers each have their own contracts.

Police Sgt. James R. Santimaw, CPA president, said the length of the new contract has been a stumbling block, with the village wanting a two-year contract and the union pushing for a longer deal.

"We're already two years behind. If we sign a two-year contract, we'll have to start negotiating another new contract the very next day," Mr. Santimaw said. "We don't see any point in doing that."

The village and the police union have found common ground on other issues, including salary increases, he said.

"We seem to be agreeable to the amount of the raises," he said.

Under the expired contract, police officers received annual raises of 3.5 percent during the first two years, followed by 4.25 percent the last two.

Dispatchers received 5 percent annual raises the first three years, followed by a 5.25 percent hike in the final year.

Employee health insurance has not been part of contract negotiations with the police union, Mr. Santimaw said.

Police officers and dispatchers do not contribute toward their health insurance costs.

Mr. Santimaw said the union gave up several concessions in the past to continue that benefit, including a one-time pay raise the village offered.

"We gave up quite a number of things. It wasn't free by any means," Mr. Santimaw said.

In addition, he said staffing levels have decreased, dropping from 10 police officers on staff about a decade ago to seven now, plus Chief Alan P. Mulkin.