Township Proposes Scrapping Longevity, Adding Steps in Contract for New Patrolmen

The Township Committee approved a first reading of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Local 238’s contract for Jan. 2, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2014, which includes raises and the elimination of longevity for new hires.

Other than minor administrative changes, the new contract boasts new salaries, which were approved on Dec. 13.

Lacey patrolmen will see a non-retroactive 2 percent raise in 2011 and a 2 percent raise each year for 2012-14. The Committee unanimously approved the raises at last Thursday’s township meeting.

Below are the wages for patrolmen moving forward:

Increment

Jan. 1, 2010

Jan. 1, 2011*

Jan. 1, 2012

Jan. 1, 2013

Jan. 1, 2014

8

$95,286

$97,192

$99,136

$101,119

$103,141

7

$89,199

$90,983

$92,803

$94,659

$96,552

6

$83,106

$84,768

$86,463

$88,192

$89,956

5

$77,017

$78,557

$80,128

$81,731

$83,366

4

$70,927

$72,346

$73,793

$75,269

$76,774

3

$64,836

$66,133

$67,456

$68,805

$70,181

2

$52,641

$53,694

$54,768

$55,863

$56,980

1

$47,048

$47,989

$48,949

$49,928

$50,927

Base/Start

$41,000

$41,820

$42,656

Academy/FT

$34,900

$35,598

$36,310

*non-retroactive

Two new increments were added to the pay scale—a starting salary for the academy and field training officers and a base salary. Eight other increments follow based on the number of years a patrolman has served.

Currently, a new hire, without training, starts with a base salary at $47,048, the same range as some trained officers. Now there will be a first-year step and an academy step at reduced salaries.

Longevity was also eliminated for new hires in both the PBA and Superior Officers Association Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 202 contracts, which was approved in October. That contract covers captain, lieutenant and sergeant.

The contracts state that all employees hired before Jan. 1, 2013, will be paid longevity increments.

In former years, in addition to employees' annual wage, they would receive longevity based on seniority. Upon entering the fifth increment of employment, the worker got 2 percent of base pay, 4 percent for the 10th increment, 6 percent for the 15th increment and 10 percent for the 23rd increment.

According to the township’s latest financial records, listed online, those with the highest figures in longevity in 2010 were Chief of Police William Nally at $13,282.20 and Sgt. Chester Jurkiewicz at $10,585.50.

Township Administrator and Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh previously said $167,315 is the savings over the lifetime of a new officer hired after Jan. 1, 2013. The calculation was based on a 2 percent increase each year up to 25 years of service.

A second reading of the resolution authorizing the execution of the contract with the PBA will be done at the next Committee meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Return to Lacey Patch for comments from the Committee and Keith Pearce, President of the PBA.