UPDATE - Mayor Vic Deluca late Friday responded to word of the Police
union rejecting the proposal that would have rescinded three layoffs slated for Tuesday. In an e-mail to Maplewoodian, he
stated:
"I am disappointed in the PBA vote. The Township Committee was prepared to agree to the package, which
would have resulted in no layoffs. The PBA did not even put forth a counter proposal, which is unfortunate."
(original story below)
Maplewood
police union members voted down a township offer that would have saved the jobs of three police officers slated for layoffs
on Tuesday. Det. Kevin Kisch, president of the Maplewood Policeman's Benevolent Association, confirmed Friday that a vote
was taken Thursday night, but failed to garner a majority for support.
"We
voted not to accept the township's offer," Kisch said, declining to reveal the exact vote. "It was similar to the
firefighter's deal, the same thing the firefighters got." That firefighter deal included the firefighter's accepting
a higher health benefit cost in exchange for cancellation of three firefighter layoffs earlier this year.
Kisch said 39 of the police union's 42 members voted on the proposal, which had been brokered
just this week. He declined to say if he supported the offer or what specifics it contained: "I provided the information
and let the guys deliberate and have a discussion over it. I'm just one vote. I didn't know what to expect."
Township officials had posted a public notice Thursday about a special Township Committee meeting
set for Tuesday, June 30 at 8 a.m. in case the proposal was approved. The notice says only that the TC will meet "initially
in closed session for contract negotiation discussions, followed by open session for possible action."
The police layoffs were first announced earlier this year along with the layoffs of three firefighters.
Those were then rescinded after the firefighters union agreed to concessions that included a $500 health benefit premium increase
and township officials announced federal grants could be obtained to keep the police officers on the payroll.
But last month, the police layoffs were again put back after the federal funding was delayed.
That funding still may come through this fall. But without it, township officials had to plan for the June 30 layoff.
Earlier this year, other layoffs that included some 20 other township employees were made,
along with a summer Friday furlough plan for all township employees that remains in effect through the end of August.
Kisch said he did not know if more discussions would occur or another deal might be worked
out. The union remains under a binding arbitration for its newest contract proposal. That arbitrator has yet to rule. "I
don't know what is going to come up in the next week," he said.
