Fishkill accepts police contract

Written by Susan Campriello Poughkeepsie Journal. For more check out the website or subscribe to the paper as I do.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20111130/NEWS/311300048/Fishkill-accepts-police-contract?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|PoughkeepsieJournal.com

FISHKILL — After nearly a year of negotiations, the Town of Fishkill and the Town of Fishkill Police Fraternity, Inc. have settled on a new contract.

The agreement, which runs retroactively from 2011 to the end of 2014, represents a 9.96 contract-to-contract labor spending increase over the life of the contract, according to town and police officials.

However, increase over the four years could be close to 11 percent when weighted and depending on officer schedules and existing longevity pay increases, according to town comptroller Robert Wheeling.

He said budgeted labor spending will increase by between roughly $12,770 and $19,150 in 2012 depending on those factors. The budget for labor in 2011 was $689,000, he said, adding that the increase was figured into the 2012 budget.

The officers did not receive everything they had wanted but they are happy, according to PBA President Detective Frank Vidal.

“No one is complaining,” he said.

The contract does not provide for higher pay for officers who work midnight shifts or a longevity pay increase as wished, he said. And, salary increases are not as high as officers had wanted, he said.

Salary increases will range from $.25 to $.50 in 2012 over current pay, he said.

The contract adds two holidays in 2012 and pay will increase for an additional holiday, according to the contract. Another holiday will be recognized in 2014.

Supervisor Joan Pagones said this will bring the number of recognized holidays to 16, which is equal to the number recognized by the town.

The contract was accepted in a 3-to-2 vote of the Town Board Wednesday evening.

Reach Susan Campriello at campriell@poughkee.gannett.com or 845-451-4518.