Police contract ratification expected

The Longboat Key’s Police Department bargaining unit and the Town Commission are expected to ratify a new three-year contract Monday, Sept. 20.

Town Manager Bruce St. Denis and police union representative Dennis Silverio Jr. signed the three-year labor contract last week.

The deal, which begins Oct. 1, only gives the officers raises and cost of living allowances if other town employees receive them and keeps their current wages intact.

The town also will leave the pension alone for the officers currently on duty. But in return, the town is taking vacation time and sick time out of an officer’s final compensation package for purposes of calculating a final pension payout. The town also reserves the right to modify the pension plan for new police officers.

The town’s Fire Rescue Department, meanwhile, is at an impasse with the town over a new contract because firefighters want guaranteed wage and cost of living increases in years two and three of a contract.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].