BY KAREN E. BOWES
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN — After 25 years of service, Middletown police officers can enjoy health benefits after retirement, no matter where they began their careers.
In a statement released by David J. De Fillippo, the attorney representing several retired police officers, it states that the township violated a union agreement “by refusing to provide postretirement benefits to Officers Wayne Bradshaw, Anthony Gonzalez and Lt. Michael Mehler.”
An award was issued on Oct. 25 by Arbitrator Joseph Licata, who presided over the case. According to Licata, Middletown failed “to produce any evidence demonstrating a prior refusal on the part of the township to provide paid retiree health benefits to any police officer … who had less than 25 years of actual service with the township.”
The township was ordered to “cease and desist from failing to provide police officers who retire, as recognized by PFRS, with fully paid retiree health benefits …” according to the text of Licata’s decision.
The township was also directed to reimburse Bradshaw, Gonzalez and Mehler for expenses incurred for paying their own health coverage.
In a related matter, health benefits for active patrol officers will also see a change.
On Oct. 18, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance to establish a salary scale and fringe benefit package for 2004 through 2007. The contract took 10 months of negotiations to complete.
“As a result of negotiations between the township and the PBA, we were able to reach an agreement that secures future savings for taxpayers in regards to health benefits, terminal leave and longevity payments,” Mayor Joan Smith said in a press release.
Under the agreement, salary increases for patrol officers in 2004 will be 3.5 percent, 3.85 percent in 2005, 3.95 percent in 2006 and 3.95 percent again in 2007.
There will be a reduction in the amount of terminal leave time, from 150 days to 125 days.
Changes in the new health plan include an increase in prescription co-pays for nongeneric medications, from $8 to $15. Co-payment for generic drugs remains at $1, according to Committeeman Thomas Hall.
“We appreciate that although the negotiations were difficult at times, they were conducted with good faith and in a professional manner,” Deputy Mayor Patrick Parkinson said.