GUILDERLAND — The town board approved a two-year contract for the Guilderland Police last Tuesday.

Sergeants, investigators, and officers will receive 4-percent salary increases in 2006 and in 2007, said Supervisor Kenneth Runion.

The Guilderland Police Department has 34 members. In 2005, their salaries ranged from $49,731 to $75,000, according to Stacie Brigadier in the supervisor’s office.

The Guilderland chief and two lieutenants are not part of the bargaining unit, Runion said, but all three will get a 4-percent salary increase. In 2006, Chief James Murley will earn $90,843. Lieutenants Curtis Cox and Carol Lawlor will make $75,869.

Other changes to the contract include the addition of a personal day for officers and changing in shift-bidding requirements, Runion said.
"And, there were technical language changes," he said. "There wasn’t a lot to it."
Asked if the contract negotiations had any sticking points, Runion said, "No, not really."

Officer William Dvorszak, the police union’s president, could not be reached for comment this week.

Last January, the town and police union agreed to extend their contract to cover 2005, instead of creating a new, two-year contract. This was because insurance and retirement costs had placed a large burden on the town budget, Runion said then.

The police department recognized the increased financial burden on the town, Officer Brian Forte, former union president, told The Enterprise in January.
"We wanted to work with the town in a good faith effort," he said.
Of Runion, Forte said, "He felt, with insurance rates so high and retirement costs this year, he wouldn’t be able to move on the items we requested."

So, the police agreed to a one-year contract extension for 2005, he said, with room for improvement in 2006. Under the 2005 contract, officers got a 2-percent salary increase on Jan. 1 and another 2-percent increase in July.

Asked this week if he felt the 2006 contract was improved from the 2005 agreement, Runion said he didn’t. Both contracts gave officers 4-percent salary increases, he said.

Other business

In other business, last Tuesday, the town board:

— Approved settlements for two property owners that contested their 2005 assessments. The town had its revaluation this year for the first time in six years. Many residents were upset because of the large increase in value of most Guilderland properties.

While 400 contested their assessments at annual Grievance Day, only 42 had their assessments reduced.

The town board Tuesday agreed to lower the assessment of Carpenter Village by $100 and to lower that of residents at 1 Ashford Drive by less than $10, Runion said.

More assessments, disputed in small-claims court, are being discussed between the town and property owners now, Runion said;

— Approved a warrant adjustment for 3416 Lydius St. because of a faulty water meter;

— Announced that the town’s reorganizational meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 5:30 p.m.; and

— Awarded bids for the sale of surplus items held by the police department.