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ROTTERDAM
Police, town contract talks loom
Pact covering 45 in department expired New Year’s Eve
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net

    With the new year comes the prospect of new contract talks between town officials and the Rotterdam police.
    The contract covering the department’s roughly 45 patrolmen, sergeants, detectives and lieutenants expired on New Year’s Eve without a new agreement in place. Talks between Supervisor Steve Tommasone and members of the Rotterdam Police Benevolent Association started early last year but seemed to break down by May, said former PBA president Rich Dunsmore, an investigator with the department whose term ended last month.
    “We ended up the year without him speaking to us,” he said.
    But Tommasone said discussions started again this month with Jack Fitch, the new PBA president. He was optimistic both sides will be able to work out a schedule for negotiations soon.
    “It’s as simple as that,” he said. “Obviously, it’s our intention to begin negotiations with the PBA again under Jack Fitch’s leadership.”
    Likewise, Fitch said preliminary talks with town officials have resumed. He said the PBA is under new administration and is looking forward to working out an agreement.
    “We’re starting over from scratch right now,” he said Wednesday. “Everything is going well and going forward so far.”
    Like many municipalities, Rotterdam’s police department represents the greatest single piece of the town’s budget. Police spending reached $5.36 million in the 2008 budget, representing an approximate increase of 7 percent over the previous year’s allocation. The town budget is almost $20 million for 2008.
    During the previous negotiations between 2003 and 2004, Tommasone said the police operated for a year on an extension of their previous contract and then ratified a two-year agreement. He hopes to reach a longer-term agreement with the PBA this year.
    “Personally, I think it makes more sense to negotiate three- to four-year contract,” he said. “But obviously it takes both sides to come up with that agreement.”
    Part of the town side of negotiations could be the discussion of policies once imposed by Rotterdam’s failed Police Commission. Prior to being voted out of existence in 2006, the commission set policies that prohibited officers from drinking alcohol within eight hours of their shift and the use of police vehicles by off-duty lieutenants.
    After the policies were enacted, the PBA filed grievances with the state Public Employment Relations Board. Both policies were subsequently reversed as appropriate for contract negotiations.
    Fitch said discussions with the town are only beginning, and neither side has articulated specifics.
    Tommasone said “Obviously, we have to worry about the fi nancial situation for the town, but in no way can we put the town in a position where we’re jeopardizing the public safety.”     

I think that the no drinking rule 8 hours b4 their shift starts is a good one, it may just save a life down the road. Albany Police already have that rule. The PBA doesn't like the longer contracts because nothing can be changed for the life of the contract and they have to live by it.

I agree shadow. It actually seems like that would be a no brainer.

Personally I think that they should have a shorter contract. I think it would benefit the municipality with fiscal responsibility especially in our present economic state. Four years, in my opinion, is too long to secure ANYTHING these days. The economy is changing rapidly and keeping a watch on all expenditures are crucial.

How are the RPD contract negotiations going? Did they settle? You don't hear anything anymore.

They are going so well...... no one has quit......that we know of....and no one has been fired either......that we know of....these are messages that would shake a community/society.....obfuscation is the key.....