Pleasantville, PBA Reach Contract Through 2015

A new contract between the Village of Pleasantville and Pleasantville Police Benevolent Association was reached just in time for the 2013-14 budget submission.

The contract, effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2015 has four major changes, according to Village Administrator Patricia Dwyer.

First, the contract includes retroactive wage increases for the four years of the contract: 2.5 percent for 2011-12, 2.5 percent for 2012-13, 2 percent for 2013-14 and 2 percent for 2014-15.

"It also has a provision, which we consider to be an incentive, that would allow unused sick time and retirement to be converted into a cash equivalent for purposes of contributing to health insurance contributions," Dwyer explained to the board of trustees before its adoption of the agreement March 11. "Right now, an employee who retires can convert unused sick time into cash at a certain predetermined formula. We are expanding that option to allow them to also convert those days into payments toward healthcare contributions because everybody does pay at retirement."

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The contract also calls for a new protocol with regard to arbitration following any disability or workers' compensation claims, Dwyer said.

"We have a whole new procedure in this agreement," she stated.

Finally, in accordance with the recently-adopted state Tier VI pension law, new police employees will adopt the pension-contribution requirements. 

Dwyer said the new sick leave incentives "favor the employer" and the 207-c (workers' compensation) adjustments will also be "beneficial to the village."

The negotiations for the contract have been taking place over the course of multiple executive sessions and with the oversight of a state board.

Pleasantville PBA President Matthew Listwan did not return calls seeking comment.

While Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer noted, "Obviously, everyone has goals," he said, "We haven't achieved all ours and they haven't achieved all theirs and I suppose that's the definition of some sort of contract success. [I am] happy to put this to bed."

Click here to view the full contract.