ThisWeek CW 08/06/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/03/new-police-contract-officers-detectives-receive-3-percent-pay-raises-in-deal.html

Groveport City Council unanimously approved a new three-year contract with Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9 on July 27, giving 15 city police officers and detectives a 3-percent pay raise in each of the three years.

Police Chief Ralph Portier said a separate agreement covering police sergeants has yet to be negotiated.

The new pact was retroactive to July 2.

In addition to pay increases, the contract increases the amount of compensatory time allowed to be banked by an officer, up from 40 hours to 56 hours. Officers will also be given an additional personal day each calendar year, up from one day to two.

In addition, the new contract includes language clarifying that all new hires will start at Step 1 of the pay rate table. Shift differential pay for all shifts between 2 p.m. and 6 a.m. will now receive an additional $1.05 per hour increase as well.

Officers also will receive a $100 increase in their annual uniform and equipment allowance, up from $800 to $900 per year.

“I’d like to publicly thank the negotiating teams and the police department for such a quick and positive outcome on this contract,” Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp said.

The new contract agreement runs through July 2018, and includes very few changes from the previous contract, according to Portier.

“I’m very pleased the both the administration and our collective bargaining team came together and worked this out so quickly,” he said. “This is now the second time we’ve managed to do a contract in only three or four bargaining sessions.”

He thanked city Finance Director Jeff Green and Administrator Marsha Hall “for working with us to get this done.”