08-01-12 Meet and Confer Committee Meeting

Browse Search

Article VI, Promotion to the Ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant was read. Chief Adcox discussed that per the last meeting he had spoke to several officers and advised that according to the various personnel he spoke with that the LPPOA membership would be more comfortable with specific language regarding the testing in the contract than waiting and relying on a committee to resolve the issue by the next salary survey (next year). Based on the comments he received he researched various policies from progressive departments with strong associations and/or unions and utilized Austin Police Department's policy as a guideline for creating this section. He also advised that Lt. Daeumer did additional research and had advised the Chief that he did not find anything department with better language than Austin, though San Antonio PD did have one provision in their contract regarding having the selected consultant come in a few weeks before each assessment center in order to offer an ordination to interested officers. This provision was added and is included in the proposed draft contract. Article IX, Association Leave is the last change that will need to be implemented into the policy. There is draft language in the draft contract, however, the Association will need to submit the language for this policy. Article XI, Duration, the only changes in regard to this section are the expiration date of the contract and the negations start date. Marcus Upchurch said he did not have any questions on any of the wording submitted. He did have a question on the date change to get salary information and Traci Leach advised that April works best for the City for budgeting purposes. The next subject discussed was compensation; Chief advised that the City promised to prepare a compensation study based on 3% between steps and present that information. The Chief clarified that the City is not proposing the implementation of the study in question, it was simply done as requested in order to see how the salaries would come out at various levels, if it would in fact work to collapse steps within various ranks, and, if so, what the cost would be to the City. While the study did not seem to affect officer steps very much, it did have a significant impact on the steps of supervisors, reducing Sergeant steps to six steps and Lieutenant steps to three. After viewing the study, it was determined that other methods may need to be looked at as the study in question benefited only a relatively small number of officers. The City advised they set aside 3% of salaries for officer's compensation study increase which equates to about $170,000.00. The numbers provided already slightly exceed that amount, making additional financial concessions difficult. Sgt. Upchurch inquired as to why the Association should concede to any additional items in the agreement if the City cannot give provide officers with more than the amount budgeted. The Association indicated they felt they are not getting anything for giving up something. Chief reminded everyone that by taking Civil Service employees to the median they are in essence receiving a cost of living increase and a pay for performance, or merit increase, and that non-