County anticipating decision on HCSO contract negotiations; city FOP contract finalized
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Union negotiations between employees of the Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Highland County Board of Commissioners may reach an end by the middle of September, while an agreement has already been reached between the city of Hillsboro and the Hillsboro Police Department.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that last week representative from the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the HCSO, and Bob Cross from Cross Consultants on behalf of the Highland County commissioners, met on the negotiations.
"It went to binding arbitration before a conciliator, on the wages for 2011, which was left open in our contract," Ward said.
The the negotiations have also been through the fact-finding process.
"This is basically the last step, under Ohio law," Ward said. "Basically, both sides argues their position and the conciliator will make a determination for both sides. He gave every indication that he would issue a written report with a decision by mid-September."
In separate negotiations, Deputy Hillsboro Law Director Kathryn Hapner said that the new contracts for the HPD went into effect in after a May after it was presented to the Hillsboro City Council.
"They didn't have the votes to reject it and they didn't have enough votes to accept it, so it sort of fell into limbo," Hapner said. "So the union filed with SERB (State Employee Relations Board) to deem the contract as accepted. At that point in time the city could have rejected it or challenged the motion, but they chose not to do that."
Hapner said that because the city chose not to vote on the matter, "it became effective by operation of law."
Council has not discussed the negotiations in open session, but has been numerous times in executive session to discuss the matter.
The contract is for a 1-percent raise. However, because the raise went into effect in July, "it was really one half of a one-percent raise."
The contract is for 2010, 2011 and 2012, she said, and "according to the language of the contract, they will receive the same raise as the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) members get the second year of their contract."
The city is currently in negotiations with AFSCME, and Hapner said she could not comment on those negotiations at this time.
Hapner said that this is not a "new" contract, but was "an opener on wages and insurance for 2011 and 2012."
Regarding insurance, "it is the same plan as the entire city, which went from the traditional HMO to Health Savings Account with a high deductible."
Union negotiations between employees of the Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Highland County Board of Commissioners may reach an end by the middle of September, while an agreement has already been reached between the city of Hillsboro and the Hillsboro Police Department.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that last week a representative from the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the HCSO, and Bob Cross from Cross Consultants on behalf of the Highland County commissioners, met on the negotiations.
"It went to binding arbitration before a conciliator, on the wages for 2011, which was left open in our contract," Ward said.
The the negotiations have also been through the fact-finding process.
"This is basically the last step, under Ohio law," Ward said. "Basically, both sides argue their position and the conciliator will make a determination for both sides. He gave every indication that he would issue a written report with a decision by mid-September."
In separate negotiations, Deputy Hillsboro Law Director Kathryn Hapner said that the new contracts for the HPD went into effect in after a May after it was presented to the Hillsboro City Council.
"They didn't have the votes to reject it and they didn't have enough votes to accept it, so it sort of fell into limbo," Hapner said. "So the union filed with SERB (State Employee Relations Board) to deem the contract as accepted. At that point in time, the city could have rejected it or challenged the motion, but they chose not to do that."
Hapner said that because the city chose not to vote on the matter, "it became effective by operation of law."
Council has not discussed the negotiations in open session, but has been numerous times in executive session to discuss the matter.
The contract is for a 1-percent raise. However, because the raise went into effect in July, "it was really one half of a 1-percent raise."
The contract is for 2010, 2011 and 2012, she said, and "according to the language of the contract, they will receive the same raise as the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) members get the second year of their contract."
The city is currently in negotiations with AFSCME, and Hapner said she could not comment on those negotiations at this time.
Hapner said that this is not a "new" contract, but was "an opener on wages and insurance for 2011 and 2012."
Regarding insurance, "it is the same plan as the entire city, which went from the traditional HMO to Health Savings Account with a high deductible."
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