Budget Commission Tables Police Promotions, Debate On Whether Contract Requires Action

The Woonsocket Budget Commission tabled discussion on two police promotions until next week after members debated whether the most recent contract should guide their decision.

Police Chief Thomas Carey asked the panel to approve the promotion of a police sergeant to fill an open lieutenant's position and the promotion of an officer to fill an open sergeant's position.

Police Chief Thomas Carey told the Commission that the police union has filed a grievance on the open sergeant's position, since it has remained open 30 days in violation of the police contract with the city. Also, he said, an officer has filed a grievance about not getting promoted, and the personnel board has ruled in his favor. 

Filling the lieutenant's position will also create a vacant sergeant's position, Carey said, since it will be filled by promoting a current sergeant.

Commission member Peder Schaefer asked Budget Commission counsel Edward Alves to confirm there is not a continuation clause in the city's most recent contract with the police union. "That's correct," Alves said, "There's no collective bargaining agreement right now."

According to City Council Vice President Dan Gendron, the police union contract ended June 30, after a two-year extension from June 2010.

Schaefer said he'd feel better waiting on the decision until Budget Commission Chairman Bill Sequino was able to attend. "The person I lean to for this area isn't here today," Schaefer said, indicating Sequino's seat.

Fontaine said that though he understands the ultimate goal of the Budget Commission is restructuring departments, the panel has no power to break contracts. "Yet we continue to make decisions that break contracts," Fontaine said.

Alves insisted there was no contract to break. "It's possible that their grievances are not arbitable, because there is no contract," he said.

Fontaine said he's concerned that if the city doesn't honor the contract, it could prompt unions to go to arbitration instead of negotiating with the Budget Commission directly.

The Commission tabled further discussion until Monday, when Sequino will be able to attend.

The panel also approved $4,620 for medical gloves for the Fire Department.

Woonsocket Fire Chief Gary Lataille presented the Commission with a request for $4,620 to purchase 350 cases of gloves, for a total of 70,000 gloves, from RND Medical Supplies of Georgia.

Commission member Peder Schaefer asked if the bid, which Lataille said was awarded to the lowest qualified bidder, was likely to exceed $15,000. "Absolutely not," Lataille said.

"We can buy much cheaper gloves. They're useless to us," Lataille said, because they rip too easily. This year, he said, they were able to buy 7,000 more gloves at $1,800 less than last year.

The Budget Commission approved the purchase. "I think people will be happy knowing that they spent less and got more," said Fontaine.

"That might actually buy us 13 months," of gloves for the department, Lataille said after the meeting.