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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-12 Meet and Confer Committee MeetingTHE CITY OF LA PORTE MEET & CONFER COMMITTEE MET THE 22nd DAY OF AUGUST, 2012 AT 3:00 P.M. AT CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 604 WEST FAIRMONT PARKWAY, LA PORTE, TEXAS, 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. Attendees: Corby Alexander, Traci Leach, Kenith Adcox, Katherine Anderson, Matt Novosad, Marcus Upchurch, David Huckabee and Chris Paige. Other attendees included: Tom Barbee and audience members Dottie Kaminski, Brian Larkey, Paul Whitchurch, Traci Phelan and Steve Deardorff. 2. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM August 8, 2012 MEETING. Minutes were reviewed and a motion to approve was made by Matt Novosad to approve 2nd by Chief Adcox, all attendees were in favor. 3. OPEN DISCUSSION RELATING TO ITEMS INTRODUCED BY THE POLICE ASSOCIATION AND/OR THE CITY OF LA PORTE, REGARDING COMPENSATION, LEAVE PROVISIONS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND CIVIL SERVICE PREEMPTIONS. During the August 8, 2012 meeting the LPPOA representatives advised they would get the proposed contract to their members and take a poll or survey on the contract as proposed. Matt Novosad distributed a sample of the ballot the LPPOA utilized, along with the results of the survey. He advised they had a 91% response and all the ballots had been counted the same morning. He then summarized the results as follows: The majority wanted the salary cap changed; and would like it to be higher or a straight percent over multi -year agreement (not just up to a maximum of 3%). He advised that the Emergency Pay Policy was okay to leave as is. 43 members would like the Assessment Center out of the contract or see changes to it. In regard to the Association Leave Pool, a change was requested whereas the contribution from members Will be from 4 hours annually to 2 hours annually per officer, who would like to contribute to the leave pool. Multi -year provision had a diverse response. There was general conversation in regard to the responses and questions about comments that were left on ballots. Matt Novosad said most issues were in regard to the term "Assessment Center" and the preference of "Alternative Testing"; but not a lot of comments were made. However, it was clear based on comments that members did not believe Assessment Center should be tied to pay. Mr. Alexander wanted to clarify that based on the comments he heard, the consensus was not that an assessment center was a "bad concept". Novosad indicated that the majority were uneasy, but not opposed to some type of alternative testing, as it can be done under civil service, and the concession tied to an increase in pay. Mr. Alexander suggested implementing a one year contract and talking about other testing means next year. However, he believes that it is important for this year's one year contract to include language requiring at least a 70 on the civil service exam to pass (before promotional points are added). Chris Paige indicated he did not believe that the 70 point rule will pass the membership vote. Matt Novosad said that the membership will see the 70 point rule as being tied to the assessment center, since it was previously presented with that language regarding an Assessment Center in the draft contract, and that the members had already voted on the assessment center. He felt bringing it back to the membership could be a problem unless it was tied to additional compensation. The Chief discussed how the multi -year contract was tied to an alternative testing system, but that if the idea of a multi -year contract was being taken off the table, it would allow the City and the Association more time to discuss a mutually satisfactory alternative by the next contract negotiation. Chief Adcox then reviewed the liability issues of promoting someone that does not actually pass the promotional instrument that we have put in place to measure whether or not they have the basic knowledge and abilities needed to do a particular job. He would like for the requirement that someone actually pass the test be negotiated now if possible. Chief Adcox advised that the two items he would hope to see in this year's contract, besides appropriate officer pay adjustments, are a 70 percent passing rule for promotional exams and an agreement by the Association to continue working in good faith with the City in order to find a way to improve the police department's promotional system. He reminded the group that these improvements do not have to be an assessment center. There just needs to be something more comprehensive and reliable than a simple multiple choice test. Chief Adcox advised that he wants the officers to be comfortable with whatever changes are ultimately made and, in order to do this, he would like the Association to take the lead in researching and recommending available options over the next year. LPPOA called a caucus at 3:28 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 3:50 p.m. Matt Novosad talked about taking •back the 70% passing rule to the membership, as the membership will feel it is tied to the Assessment Center. He advised that we are at a 3% maximum increase and based on the ten (10) cities we currently use in the market survey our statistics show we are doing a great job in regard to our crime statistics. He inquired that if we are negotiating on a median market, then why are we not striving for more than 3% increase. He feels the membership would have to have at least a 5% increase to even consider the 70% passing; and that the 70% has to have something tied to it. Mr. Alexander advised that he would like to see the contract with the current figures, changes to the leave pool contribution hours as previously discussed, with the 70% passing rule included, taken to Council after the Association takes a revised contract to the membership for vote. Matt Novosad inquired as to what will happen if the membership says no to the 70%. It was discussed that they would either require an additional extension of the current contract or be at an impasse. Matt Novosad advised that he would take a vote on of the membership and asked about the next meeting. Chief Adcox asked if the vote was going to be an official vote, an additional meeting would not be required unless the association membership voted against the contract. If that were to happen, a meeting time would need to be set for additional discussion. Officer Novosad advised that a vote would be taken and he would advise of its outcome. 4. SET TIME AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING No meeting was set due to the pending results of the contract vote. S. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None. 6. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 4:07 p.m. APPROVED ON THIS THE 5 DAY OF_ 2012. Ken Adcox, Chief of Police Matt Novosad, LPPOA President