Police, City Reach Contract Agreement
Police officers will receive a $1,000 bonus and a maximum 5% salary increase by 2000 under a contract approved this week between the Police Department and the City Council.
Under the contract, Police Department employees will receive $1,000 this year. Salary for non-sworn personnel will increase 2.2%. Next year, pay increases will not exceed 3%. By 2000, police officials will receive increases of between 2.5% and 5%, contingent upon available funds from sales and property taxes.
The contract, also including some benefits improvements, is retroactive to July 1997 and will be in effect through June 30, 2000.
“It was unbelievable that we came to a settlement,” said Kevin Baker, president of the Westminster Police Officers Assn. and a nine-year veteran of the department. “They stepped up to the plate and delivered for us.”
In December 1995, the city agreed to a contract with the Police Department that said police officers wouldn’t receive any pay increase until July 1996. The city’s contribution to employees’ health plans was reduced, along with vacation time, which was cut from 120 hours to 80 hours, for rookie officers. The new contract starts rookies at $3,400 a month as opposed to $2,900 a month in 1995.
“This is a big turnaround,” Baker said.
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