Cochecton highway workers contract hits speed bump

By DAVID JACKMAN

COCHECTON — For over a year and a half, Town of Cochecton highway employees have been working without a contract. The terms of the 1999 contract are still in use by workers, and they will be entitled to retroactive pay under salary terms when the new contract has been reached, provided there is a pay increase.

Town council person nominee Toni Keesler, the spouse of a highway employee, harried town supervisor Sal Indelicato about when money would be released.

“When a contract is signed, money will then be released,” Indelicato said.

The Civil Service Employees Association, who represents the highway workers and the Public Employee Relations Bureau [PERB] in Albany, who represents the interest of the people in the State of New York, are involved in the negotiation.

PERB has been in mediation with the town and, according to John Keating, attorney for the Town and contract mediator, “We have reached an agreement in principal and it’s contingent on one item.” The one item, according to Keating, could change the details of all of the negotiated terms.

The entire contract is subject to negotiation, while each side is trying to get the best “bargain.” A collective bargaining agreement will be used to serve the best interest of the municipalities and employees, Keating said.

Although Keating said that the process is “almost over,” he added that negotiations and the arbitration procedure were extensive.

The highway budget for Cochecton is $494,784 and is 60 percent of the town’s budget of $781,525.

In other board matters, Edward Sykes from Mike Preis Insurance proposed a change from the town’s current insurance holder, which he said would save $3,700 annually.

The board also signed a franchise agreement with Time Warner. The current contract had expired and the town negotiated fees with regard to the usage of town property.