Aurora OKs police officers' three-year contract
AURORA – A new three-year collective bargaining agreement covering police officers who work for the city, which is effective as of Jan. 1, 2023, was approved by Council at its Nov. 21 meeting.
It is the first of three contracts with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association to be hashed out. Law director Dean DePiero said two others are still being negotiated with the sergeants and dispatchers units of the union.
The agreement calls for a 4 percent wage hike in 2023 and 3 percent in each of 2024-25. “We believe it is in line with the Consumer Price Index, other nearby cities and takes into consideration inflation,” DePiero said.
As of 2025, the annual salaries will be as follows: $80,552 for an officer III, $88,125 for an officer II and $95,700 for an officer I.
In 2023, officers will not contribute toward the total cost of their high deductible health plan. In 2024-25, they will contribute 2 percent. Standard plan contributions are 2 percent in 2023 and 4 percent each in 2024-25, while buy-up plan contributions are 6 percent in 2023 and 10 percent in 2024-25.
The contract allows for 80 hours of vacation time for officers who have worked for one to three years, increasing to 200 hours for those who have worked for 20 years or more.
Full-time officers will accrue sick leave at the rate of 1 ¼ work days, or 10 hours for each calendar month of service, and there will be no limit as to the accumulation of sick leave days.
Three days of bereavement leave are awarded in the event of the death of a member of the employee’s family, with an additional day if the funeral is more than 300 miles from Aurora.
OTHER BUSINESS
An ordinance transferring police department None for Under 21 funds to the Portage County Health District was approved. The funds total $23,427, of which $17,500 had been budgeted. An additional $5,927 will close out the fund.
Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin explained due to the future retirement of Officer Vicki Yendriga, the fund will be closed and the health district will become fiduciary and assume responsibility for managing the account.
The disposal of four Motorola mobile radios was approved, while moving to third reading are measures to dispose of a 2010 Horton/International ambulance which has logged about 132,286 miles and about 100 old traffic signals.
The money received for the ambulance will go toward the future purchase of an ambulance, while the signals disposal is a result of recent citywide signalization upgrades. All the items will be auctioned at govdeals.com.
Council confirmed the hiring of Daniel Sedlak as a part-time, temporary GIS technician. He will replace a technician who resigned and will serve until the position is filled permanently.
Council acknowledged the transfer of a liquor permit due to a change in ownership of Angelo’s pizza and Italian restaurant in Aurora Commons.
Finance director Tim Clymer reported fund balances remain in a healthy position, with $41.5 million unencumbered in all funds and $17.54 million in the general fund. He said the city’s overall balance has increased $5 million since the start of 2022.
“As is typical in December, I anticipate proposing a seven-figure transfer out of the general fund into various capital funds to prepare for our future needs,” he said.
Womer Benjamin reported the city has received a proclamation from the Regional Income Tax Agency recognizing its 50 years of membership. Aurora was one of 39 original RITA members.
The mayor announced retired Fire Chief David Barnes will be honored as person of the year and Lynk Packaging on Page Road as business of the year at the Chamber of Commerce’s holiday luncheon Dec. 6.
Councilman John Kudley announced Santa Claus will visit the Aurora Historical Society museum Dec. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact the newspaper at auroraadvocate@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Three-year contract for police officers OK'd by City Council
