Union president says city administrator Palmer stalled negotiations
~GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The addition of two new patrol officers to the Jefferson police department recently has the potential to solve a dire need for manpower, a need that left some wondering if the Jefferson PD would survive, or if it would disband, leaving the Greene County sheriff’s office as the only law enforcement in the county.
The immediate need has been addressed, but taking care of the cause for the shortage is taking longer. Still, there’s good news there. Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer told GCNO this week the city and AFSCME Local 3949, the union representing all non-salaried city employees, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.
The shortage of officers was due to high turnover, caused in large part by low wages. JPD officers were able to see a significant increase in wages by crossing the hallway at the Law Enforcement Center, trading their navy blue JPD uniform for a brown sheriff’s deputy uniform. Two JPD officers did exactly that in recent months. Other officers have left for nearby agencies with higher wages.
In early September Jefferson chief of police Mark Clouse and county sheriff Jack Williams began discussing deputies providing coverage in Jefferson via a 28E agreement.
More than 50 persons attended the Sept. 8 city council meeting, rallying to support the JPD. The council approved a motion that night directing city staff to begin negotiating a new union contract immediately, and to expedite the process.
It is the council’s intention that a new contract be in place before the June 30, 2021 expiration of the current contract. Negotiating a new contract with the AFSCME with higher wages for police officers was seen as an important part of attracting good people to the force and retaining them.
At the Sept. 28 meeting of the county supervisors, sheriff Williams questioned whether negotiations were in progress. Palmer told GCNO at that time, “We’re right where we should be in re-negotiating.”
That was Palmer’s impression of the process.
AFSCME Local 3949 president Lesa Seil thinks Palmer stalled the process.
In an email to media on Nov. 10, Seil questioned whether progress is being made on contract negotiations. Seil wondered if the city administrator is “intentionally stalling negotiations.”
Seil also questioned the procedures used in notifications of public meetings concerning contract negotiations and the engagement of Jack Lipovac with HR-One Solutions to handle contract negotiations.
“Why can’t the city administrator and city council members handle this by coming to the table like so many other cities and counties do?” Seil wrote.
Seil stated she thinks public meetings pertaining to negotiations have not been properly posted or posted with inaccurate times.
“The citizens of Jefferson deserve better transparency,” wrote Seil.
GCNO spoke with Mike Palmer, city administrator, on Nov. 17.
Asked for an update on contract negotiations, Palmer said, “We now have a tentative agreement, still subject to the city council’s approval and ratification by AFSCME.”
Palmer said the “initial exchange of information” was made on Nov. 4. This is a public meeting and requires public notification.
Palmer said a notice had been placed on the door to city hall, but “the date was wrong.” No other notification of the public meeting was made; local media was also not notified.
Palmer said a closed session negotiation was held on Nov. 16 and it was “very productive.” Closed sessions are not open to the public and notifications are not made to the public.
Palmer said he could not give specific details, but he believes the contract will be finalized before the end of the year.
“The city council votes whether to approve the contract in open session and that is available to the public,” Palmer said.
When asked about the time lag from the council’s directive on Sept. 8 to the initial exchange of information on Nov. 4, Palmer said, “Both sides were setting up meetings. We were doing preliminary work and scheduling.”
