Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, discusses the reasons why the Jamestown City Council should approve a resolution to appeal the state Supreme Court’s decision to not overturn the arbitration ruling made last year. The council approved to appeal the decision, with the case now to be heard by the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division Fourth Department in Rochester. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

The Jamestown City Council has approved to appeal the arbitration decision made last year to give the Jamestown Police Department employees a raise.

On Monday, the council approved the appeal 8-1, with Andrew Liuzzo, At-Large councilman, voting against the decision. Prior to the vote, Liuzzo, who is also running for city mayor, said the attorney’s representing the city, Bond Schoeneck and King, and the lawyers, Fessenden Laumer & De Angelo, speaking for the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association should reconvene at the negotiation table to reach a deal that is best for the city.

Liuzzo made a motion to table the resolution to approve appealing the arbitration ruling to the state Supreme Court Appellate Division, but no one second the motion so it died.

During a speech prior to the council voting on the appeal resolution, Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, said the arbitration agreement that provides for a 2 percent pay increase for the police department employees in 2016-17 is a ticking time bomb that should not be left “in the laps” of the future mayor and the council if not appealed.

“This mayor and council have never done business that way and I strongly suggest that we do not alter our approach now,” he said.

Liuzzo said the time bomb Teresi referenced shouldn’t be left for the next mayor, but should be handled by the current one during his last year in office.