On Monday, two big pieces of the city budget puzzle moved into place at the voting session of the City Council.
Anthony Dolce, R-Ward 2 and member of the council's finance committee, announced a pair of resolutions comprising the negotiated contracts with the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association and the Jamestown Professional Firefighters Association. Both contracts met unanimous approval with the council.
Jamestown firemen have been working without a contract since the end of 2008, and the contract for the city's police officers expired on Dec. 31, 2009.
In the pair of resolutions distributed among the council's nine members Monday, the city will retroactively pay the wage increases of both police and fire according to the new agreements. Police officers can expect a 3 percent pay increase from the beginning of 2010, followed by a another 2 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2011, and 1 percent more at the mid-year mark of 2011. Firemen will earn raises totaling 6 percent from the past two years, and then, like police, 2 percent and 1 percent during 2011.
According to the same documents, police and fire will have to contribute 16 percent of their health insurance premium, which previously stood at 15 percent.
"As council president, I'm happy we did finally approve the contracts tonight," said Councilman Greg Rabb, D-At Large.
He said there were a lot of negotiation between both sides. And while Rabb wasn't in a position to go into detail about the "give and take," Rabb said the deal reflects the work public safety does and is something the taxpayers can live with.
"I think they are fair contracts. It's a difficult time to negotiate contracts with the economic situation outside this building,'' Rabb said.
Marilyn Fiore-Nieves, the city's legal counsel and negotiating representative, could not be reached for comment following the meeting. In July, before a final agreement had been reached, she explained current wages for the respective departments had been frozen to the levels of the lapsed contracts, but would likely have to be corrected whenever a new deal came together.
Rabb confirmed that the new contracts will not disrupt the prospective city budget the council is putting together.
"We did budget for the amounts in here, so we are prepared to handle what we finally approved this evening," though Rabb added "the challenges of the budget coming up are still there, and it's going to be a difficult year."
WELLMAN RESTORATION
The council's finance committee had another bright spot to show at the meeting.
Vince DeJoy introduced a resolution to accept a $1.2 million Restore NY grant for the renovation of the Wellman Building, located at the intersection of Third and Cherry streets opposite the Hotel Jamestown. The grant is offered by New York's Empire State Development office, and must be applied for by the host municipality.
"We're very fortunate to receive that grant from the state," he said, since it ensures the private developer will stay committed to the goal of the restoration project.
He added its completion will "change the whole complexion of Third Street."
Buffalo-based developer Anthony Pirrone is leading the $7.5 million effort that will create 46 market-rate apartments and a lower floor ready for commercial space.
DeJoy explained how the city and Pirrone's group work together, saying "It's a relationship where there is mutual cooperation between the public and private sector to make this development go forward."
