Nov 30, 2015 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council at a special meeting Monday approved a contract with borough police that includes yearly wage increases of 2 percent over five years and numerous changes in contract language.

Council approved the agreement after meeting for about a half hour in executive session.

Waynesburg Borough Police Association, which represents the five, full-time officers on the force, must meet to formally approve the agreement.

Councilman Mark Fischer, who negotiated the agreement for council, praised members of the association and the “atmosphere of collaboration” they helped to create in working to an agreement.

“Hats off to those folks for sitting down and contributing their ideas,” he said. “They were very realistic about it. They get it,” Fischer said, noting members of the association understand the borough and its financial situation.

Though police Officer Tom Ankrom was the head negotiator, usually, other members of the association also attended the negotiating sessions and contributed their thoughts, he said.

Ankrom could not be reached Monday night for comment.

Fischer explained the contract calls for 2 percent wage increases each year, which consists of 1 percent for longevity and 1 percent for cost of living.

If, after five years, the cost of living exceeds 5 percent based on the Pittsburgh area consumer price index, the officers will receive a wage adjustment. The officers will not receive a reduction, however, should the consumer price index fall below 5 percent, Fischer said.

The contract increases the base rate of pay from $17 to $17.50 an hour, which equates to $36,400 a year; and includes a new 30-step salary schedule that tops off at $31.08 an hour, or $64,646 a year.

It also changes the department’s rankings, creating two sergeant positions, posts the borough has been without in the past. One sergeant will on duty during the day and the other at night.

The idea, Fischer said, is to have one person who will be able “to call the shots” when necessary. If a sergeant is not on duty, a regular officer will serve as senior officer, he said.

Officers also will see a change in their health care plan, an item that will save the borough money. However, the new plan through Highmark is similar to the officer’s existing plan and will not increase the officers’ costs, Fischer said.

The contract allows the borough to renegotiate the health care benefits should the plan be penalized as a “Cadillac Plan” under the Affordable Care Act.

The contract, in addition, includes incentives for college courses and police training and revamps holidays to base them on federal holidays. Officers will receive a day off for holidays to use in lieu of personal days.

The new contract will take effect Jan.1. The contract does not cover police Chief Rob Toth, who has a separate contract, or the borough’s part-time officers. The borough currently has about seven part-time officers on the force.