NSBNEWS.net video by Sera King. The New Smyrna Beach City Commission heard a presentation from Personnel Director Carol Hargy on a proposed 2 percent increase for police officers earlier this month, but a vote was put off after city resident Bill Kolesczar challenged the legality of such a vote since the public had not been noticed, setting the stage for tonight's vote. Check out the video for Hargy's explanation of what's new in the proposedcontract, including a revised overtime formula.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's a showdown at tonight's 6:30 City Commission meeting with two opposing forces for and against a proposed 2 percent wage increase for the city's police officers.
Bill Kolesczar has been a vocal opponent of what he perceives is excessive city spending, especially as it relates to slaries for the police and fire departments. He declined to speak in advance of tonight's meeting on what he'll say.
On the other side is the "Stand Up" campaigned led by police Sgt. Eugene Griffith, who explained, "My wish
(is) to take this City into the future the best possible way, through the voice of the majority, not a couple of hecklers that show up for a City Commission Meeting."
Grifith added, "The goal of my campaign is to make the City of New Smyrna Beach the best community on the east coast of Florida. A safe place to live, work and raise children."
Kolesczar was infuriated that the commission was about to vote on the slary increase after hearing a presentation from Personnel Director Carol Hargy. Kolesczar contended the public wasn't properly noticed and the issue wasn't even on the agenda for a vote.
Mayor Sally Mackay agreed and later explained the situation in an e-mail to Griffith: "I share your disappointment. But the agenda for the City Commission meeting of January 13th advertised a Labor Contract Status Update, that is all. To rush to vote on a Labor Contract in the current economic climate at such a late hour - 10.30 at night - in front of a handful of people and when virtually no one was prepared for a vote, in my opinion, not only showed a lack of respect for the bargaining process but would probably cause dissention and trouble. Nobody needs that; we need transparency in government. The proposed contract between the Police Department andCity of New Smyrna Beach has been successfully negotiated in good faith and a respectful manner. It deserves to be ratified the same way."
Here are other issues raised by Griffith in support of the raise in his own words:
# NSBPD Pay is in the median range for the agencies within Volusia County and on the low end when compared to the surrounding counties (Orange, Seminole, etc...)
# The best pay raise for NSBPD was over a three year period from 2004-2007. The raises took us from the bottom of the county to the middle range. Port Orange, Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach are at the top of the scale. The raise was the best our agency has ever received and we really appreciated it.
# The average officer is scheduled to work 44 hours per week. In reality, the average is closer to 50 hours because of forced overtime due to manpower shortage issues. We are down at least 7 officers as we speak and in reality could use 20 new hires right now to have the correct and safe amount.
# As for budget cut-back, we have lost the ability to send officers to advanced training schools because we have to lower our overtime usage. We also try to work shorthanded as often as we can to reduce overtime. We started paying a fuel surcharge for the ability to have take-home-vehicles. We have our officers turn off their patrol cars as many times as they can during their shifts. We have created a saving atmosphere within the agency to cut costs where ever they can be cut, without creating safety issues.