Pay would rise 2.5%-3.5%; 3-man shifts would begin
By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN In the long term, the existence of the borough Police Department may be in jeopardy.
But over the next four years, its members are poised to receive annual pay raises ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 percent.
Borough Council had been scheduled to introduce two ordinances Monday to establish police salaries in accord with a tentative four-year contract retroactive to January 2006. That action was delayed because the borough hadn’t received the draft contract from the police union, according to Borough Administrator Candace Gallagher.
"The deal has been approved," said PBA Local 283 President David Chenoweth said Tuesday. "The contract is still at the lawyer’s office."
Despite the council delay, the proposed salaries were included in the documentation supplied at the meeting, and they represent a 2.5 percent increase in 2006, a 3 percent hike in 2007 and 3.5 percent increases in 2008 and 2009, according to Ms. Gallagher.
Under the proposed contract, the starting salary for a probationary officer, usually a one-year designation, would be $38,626 this year, while a patrolman would earn $49,649 in his first year and would make $73,153 in his fourth year. A sergeant would be paid $79,664 in 2006, while a lieutenant would earn $82,611.
For those hired after Jan. 1, 2007, a probationary officer would earn $46,497 and a patrolman would make $50,416 in his first year and could rise to $80,057 in his sixth year. A sergeant hired after this year would earn $87,182 while a lieutenant would be paid $90,408.
In the final year of the contract, 2009, the salaries of employees hired before next year would range from $45,282 for a probationary officer to $96,847 for a lieutenant. The salaries for those hired after this year would range from $49,810 for a probationary officer to $96,847 for a lieutenant in 2009.
A Borough Council subcommittee and representatives of PBA Local 283, which represents 14 officers, reached a tentative accord in September.
Council President Dave Schneider previously said the new contract would include a scheduling change that would increase the availability of officers and dramatically decrease overtime. Officer Chenoweth, who recently said he is happy with the pending deal, explained this week that that will be accomplished by instituting three-man shifts.
"If someone happens to be sick or is off due to vacation or personal time, you can still run the shift with two officers," he said. "Our other shift only had two officers on each shift. If someone was out, it would generate overtime."
In the spring, Mr. Chenoweth said morale had remained high despite the lack of a contract and the ongoing talks with East Windsor over the possible consolidation of the borough department because of financial concerns.
There have been three such meetings since the spring. After the latest, last month, East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov said the study committee also comprised of Hightstown Mayor Bob Patten and Borough Councilman Walter Sikorski and Township Councilman Marc Lippman was recommending that the two communities seek a state grant and solicit proposals from companies that review police consolidation.
Mayor Mironov said Tuesday that the committee plans to hold a fourth meeting next week.
While Borough Council took no action on the new contract Monday, it did approve the appointment of James M. Newman as municipal court judge.
Judge Newman, of Freehold, serves in a similar capacity in Manalapan, Englishtown and Fair Haven. He will serve the unexpired term of Judge Marvin Van Hise, who is retiring Dec. 1. That terms runs until April 3.
"I’m looking forward to working with the borough and dealing with the issues that they have," Judge Newman said Wednesday.
Ms. Gallagher said Judge Newman was chosen after several applicants were interviewed.
The 2005 salary for his position was previously set at $32, 044, she said.
Staff writer Dick Brinster contributed to this story. For more on Judge Newman, see next week’s edition of the Herald.

