Township looks to save $250,000 to stay within budget
By Andrew Corselli, Staff Writer
Much to the chagrin of the Policeman’s Benevolent Association, the Township Committee authorized the layoff of three township police officers on Tuesday night.
Keri Shutz, who has been on the force for a little more than a year, and Pedro Rodrigues and Chris Giraldi, who have both been officers for almost two years, were hit by the layoffs, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
”You want to talk about the finest officers, I’m in my 16th year, (and these three are) some of the finest young officers we have,” said Ted Lewis, a Hillsborough resident and president of PBA Local 205. “Those are the officers who are hustling and wanting to make this town a safe place and the township allowed them to be let go.”
On March 22, the governing body authorized layoff notices to cut $250,000 from the township budget. The township said it couldn’t afford to pay salaries, pensions and benefits for all 54 officers and still remain under the state’s two-percent tax levy increase cap.
The two sides were unable to reach an agreement by the Tuesday night deadline. Mr. Lewis said after the meeting that “as a friend to them, as a union member, I will do whatever I can to get them working again. These officers were born to be police officers. They’re going to go get a good job somewhere else and it’s going to be a win for whatever department they work for. Hillsborough just lost today.”
He later said the loss will affect the force “greatly” as the squad is dropped to 51 officers. It will still have the same number of patrol officers but during the busiest times they will not have the additional strength, he said.
”Those things that we do that make Hillsborough what it is are no longer, and that’s the problem. It has changed the dynamics of how we operate,” he said.
The two sides were at an impasse following negotiations that went to Monday night. Public safety liaison Frank DelCore said Tuesday night that “we have tried to submit numerous proposals back and forth with discussion on issues of simply one-year concessions. The PBA was very focused on trying to work through an extension of the existing contract. I think we were at a position where we were close enough to come to terms on that.
”The proposal that we had put on the table was for one-year concessions for the jobs of the contract, which expires at the end of this year. The PBA would begin contributions to the health care at 1½ percent, which would become effective Jan. 1, when the contract lapses. We were asking for an early submission of that, starting June 1.
”We also asked to forego the clothing, shoe, miscellaneous allowance for this year. That equates to an aggregate of $2,105 per officer. In return for the allowance, we would provide six additional paid vacation days. (That) effectively equates to the same value as what was being given back as the allowance. I think the allowance and the vacation days are a wash and the proposal really provides for an early start to the health care contribution. That’s a contribution of $700 and change per man. That’s where we left it at last night.”
Mr. Lewis also said after the meeting that when the township came to the PBA and asked for $250,000 in savings, the PBA responded with $224,000 in concessions. on healthcare, limits on overtime and forgoing allowances on clothing and equipment, he said.
”We tried to give them their savings. You heard the amount we wanted to give them,” he said. “Bending over backwards, it wasn’t an option. The fact of the matter is they’re looking to not fix the problem. They’re close-minded and they’re naive in their thinking that their problems are going to go away. I don’t know what they’re looking for.”Mr. Lewis said after the meeting that the PBA voted on no concessions for solely 2011 because of a lack of stability. He added that the Township Committee came to the PBA in 2010 and now in 2011, and he believes that they will come again in 2012.
”They’re close-minded in thinking that tomorrow’s going to go away,” he said. “As far as I know, tomorrow always comes.”
Mayor Gloria McCauley offered an extension until 5 p.m. Friday to work out a deal, but the PBA declined. Mr. Lewis said after the meeting that “the extension wouldn’t have done anything but got us to the point (we’re at now).”
Seven township residents stood up during the public hearing and voiced their displeasure.
”In the past five days our shopping center had two attempted robberies,” said John Moretti, owner of the Papa John’s pizzeria on Route 206 and a township resident. “(The response time for the robbery in our store) was one minute and 46 seconds from the time I was on the phone to the time that (the police) were there. With these last two incidents, we’re now going to start taking more police officers off?
”As a resident and as a taxpayer maybe I’ll share the burden. Tell me what I can do in order to keep these officers on. I’ll contribute whatever I can,” he said.
”In my opinion, I can’t help but think that this is less about finances and more about this Township Committee’s ability to find a way to put a gun to the PBA’s head and not honor their obligations under this collective bargaining agreement,” said township resident Jim Maguire. “Shame on you all. You’ve lost my respect and more than that you’ve lost my vote.”
”Similar to what you’ve just done to my career with the Hillsborough police, I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet. It was my dream to be a Hillsborough police officer, I have nearly a two-month-old son at home and he’s never going to get to see his father in a police outfit. On Easter Sunday I went home just so he could get that picture because I thought this day was going to come. I just want to put a face to the name, so any of you who don’t know me will know me now,” said Mr. Giraldi, of Amwell Road, who got choked up before leaving to a standing ovation.

