http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-996203.mp3
MACOMB, IL – Macomb Police have a three year contract with the city. The negotiations were lengthy as the parties differed on several issues including shift length, time-off requests and disciplinary processes.
The contract is retroactive to May 1st of 2010. The parties tried mediation earlier this year. They then resorted to "mediated arbitration" to settle the issues.
City Administrator Dean Torreson said officers will not get raises the first year of the contract although some will get step increases that will average 1.8%.. They will get 1.5% raises in the second year and 2.25% raises in the final year of the contract.
Torreson said the city wanted several measures to reduce its overtime costs
Torreson said, "Use of comp time cannot create additional comp time so it cannot feed upon itself. All use of comp time has to be paid in cash."
He said officers will have to schedule comp time use in advance.
He also said if the department's manpower drops below 25 officers available the shifts could be reduced from 10 hours to eight hours.
The new contract also relaxes residency requirements. Officers no longer have to live in Macomb. They do have to live in McDonough County.