Cary, police union sign new contract

After opting to do without attorneys at the negotiating table, it took the village of Cary and its police union only three meetings to negotiate a new contract.

The three-year contract was approved by the village board earlier this week, and it is retroactive to May 1. It affects 22 sworn police officers represented by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 231, Village Administrator Chris Clark said.

Negotiations took place between February and April; the village was represented by Clark and Police Chief Steve Casstevens, while the union was represented by three police officers, Clark said. A union representative did not immediately return a call for comment.

“I think we were able to be more open and direct, and really get to the core of the issues more quickly,” Clark said.

“We thought it was a much more streamlined way to operate. It helped us to resolve issues in a more succinct fashion.”

The contract calls for salary increases of 1.75 percent in the first year, 2 percent in the second year and 2.25 percent in the third year. The base salary for a patrol officer is now $46,391, while the top step salary is $76,910.

Officers with more than 15 years of service will receive an increase to $78,455, Clark said.

Officers will increase their health insurance contribution from the current 15 percent to 16 percent in the first year, 17 percent in the second year and 18 percent in the third year. There will also be a new HMO option with a 15-percent contribution, Clark said.

Officers will receive a $600 annual allowance to pay for their equipment and uniforms, instead of having to ask for payment on an as-needed basis.

That is just a procedural change; the total expense to the village will be the same, Clark said.

The contract was reviewed by attorneys on both sides before being ratified, Clark said.

The police department’s budget, at about $4.1 million, is about 55 percent of the village’s general fund budget.