TRR photo by David Hulse Deputies PBA president Ed Clouse, left, and county negotiator Jim Roemer were seated together at last week’s General Services Committee meeting. (Click for larger image)

Pomeroy wants a quick settlement

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — If any county legislators had not heard about the patrol deputy contract problems, they did on February 14, when placard-carrying deputies conducting an informational picket at the government center appeared inside the Real Property Committee meeting.

The deputies, whose starting salary is $25,000, say they are paid, on average, 25 percent below comparative salaries for other police agencies in the county. They have been without a contract since the beginning of last year, have declared an impasse in negotiations and requested the appointment of a mediator.

Several officers of the patrol deputies Policeman’s Benevolent Association appeared later at the General Services Committee, which deals with personnel issues, along with county labor attorney Jim Roemer, who briefed legislators in a closed executive session. “The legislature is fully aware of the status of the negotiations,” was Roemer’s only comment after the session.

Legislative chair Rusty Pomeroy later said the legislature had given its negotiators a unanimous position and sounded optimistic about settling the contract. “Nothing leads me to believe this is going to be a long and contentious thing.”

While Pomeroy says there is danger that a settlement beyond the terms of other county contracts could open the door for other contract changes, he said, “We have to settle. We want it settled. We have a commonality of interests.”