By BRETT R. WHITLING
Clarion News writer
Clarion Borough and its unionized police officers have reached agreement on a new four-year pact that includes annual raises of 3.5 percent in 2018 and 2019, 2.75 percent in 2020 and 2.5 percent in 2021.
The contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers, Local Union No. 110 will affect the seven full-time officers beginning Jan. 1, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2021.
Clarion Borough Council President Carol Lapinto said this was the first time the borough negotiated a contract with this union after the police officers switched from representation by the Fraternal Order of Police several years ago.
Although many details throughout the contract remain unchanged, the biggest change was with the language used throughout the contract, according to Lapinto.
Some adjustments to the contract:
- Officers’ major medical deductible was reduced from $150 to $100 per individual and from $450 to $300 per family. Clarion Borough will pay for a basic emergency room fee or charge above $25. The borough will still reimburse officers the co-payment deductible for prescription drugs provided by the insurer plus $7 per prescription.
- Officers serving on jury duty will be reimbursed for their full amount of pay instead of the difference between what is made while on jury duty. Lapinto said this makes payroll calculations easier.
- Any officer will be paid an additional $1 per hour when performing detective work.
- Full-time officers with 15 years of service are entitled to one extra personal day, giving them a total of four per year.
- A section in regard to officers using pagers was taken out of the contract, as pagers are no longer used. Although no details were altered in this section of the contract, the borough’s detective was changed from William Peck IV to Neil Kemmer several months back when Peck took the job of police chief.
During the Oct. 3 Clarion Borough Council meeting, Lapinto thanked the officers and union for smooth negotiations in renewing the contract. Councilman and Public Safety Committee Chairman Ben Aaron said everybody had a good understanding between the last contract and the new one.
“The negotiations went civil and we share our appreciation for the work (the officers) do,” Aaron said.
Lapinto said no added taxpayer dollars were spent between Public Safety Committee and police officers on the contract negotiations.