Geneva to vote Monday on first police contract

Geneva police patrol officers would receive raises of 3.5 percent under a proposed contract the city council will discuss Monday night.

It is the first union contract for the police department. The state labor relations board certified the bargaining unit, with 25 members, in 2010.

The four-year contract, which has been ratified by union members, would be retroactive to May 1, 2011, and extend through April 30, 2015.

It calls for a raise of 3.5 percent the first year, 2 percent the second and 3 percent each in the third and fourth years.

In the first year, a new hire with no experience would start at $55,833 a year. Step raises would be given annually until the officer hits the top of the range.

It also allows covered officers to carry over sick days from year to year and to cash out up to 60 days of it upon retirement.

The proposed contract can be viewed at www.geneva.il.us/agendas/cowpacket.pdf.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 22 S. First St.

The contract would only cover full-time sworn patrol officers.

The patrol officers are the second group of city employees in a union; workers in the electrical department are unionized.