LAMBERTVILLE: Police contract efforts stalled

Impasse is going to binding arbitration

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — Lambertville’s police officers have broken off contract negotiations with the city, sending the impasse to binding arbitration.
   Their four-year contract expired Dec. 31.
   The two sides met once in negotiations in December and again Feb. 5. At the second meeting, the city asked for a number of givebacks. The union then asked for binding arbitration, according to the city’s labor attorney, John R. Lanza.
   ”We’re going to have to have a third party call it,” Mr. Lanza said.
   Officer Michael Gramlich, president of PBA 343, said the members of Lambertville’s police force are among the lowest paid in Hunterdon County.
   He declined to discuss the details of the negotiations.
   The city asked for givebacks in almost all areas, Mr. Lanza said. These include salary, medical coverage, longevity pay, vacations and holiday pay.
   Mayor David Del Vecchio said the city’s request for givebacks is a reflection of the tanking economy.
   He said, “It’s not about the PBA; it’s about the world we live in today.”
   The mayor said some citizens have lost their jobs in the economic downturn, and others kept their jobs, but either didn’t get a raise or took pay cuts and lost money.
   ”I’m disappointed that the PBA is going to arbitration,” Mayor Del Vecchio said. “I hope the PBA takes a hard look at what’s going on in the world and takes that into consideration. We certainly are.”
   Mr. Lanza said, “People in the private sector are getting laid off left and right. People are fortunate to have a job, let alone a raise.”
   He called it “the economic realities of our time.”
   The impasse will not affect the city’s police protection because it is illegal for police to strike, Mr. Lanza said. The two sides must agree on an arbitrator. If they cannot, one will be appointed by the Public Employee Relations Commission.
   The police department is comprised of nine full-time officers.
   Sgt. Bob Brown and Sgt. Jeff Jones each make $73,776.04 a year. Six 1st Class officers — Kenneth Housman, Sharon Polyak, Joseph Weber, Anthony Memolo, Michael Miloszar and Officer Gramlich — make $70,262.90 a year. Third Class Officer Vincent Albani’s annual salary is $54,750.94.