Politics & Government

DPW Contract Finalized, New Hire Approved

Township Committee hires another DPW worker after approving 3.5-year retroactive contract with unions for the municipal Department of Public Works.

The Township Committee hired an experienced diesel mechanic for the previously understaffed on Tuesday night, right after giving final approval for a backdated contract covering Jan. 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014.

A 3.5-year contract with DPW employees, members of a Teamsters union and local 469 of a chauffeurs and warehousemen and helpers of America union, awards the department's employees a retroactive pay increase of 1.5 percent as of July 2011, and additional 1.5 and 2 percent raises that take effect in July 2012 and July 2013.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, the Township Committee voted to approve the hiring of Douglas Davenport, subject to employment screening, to begin working as a mechanic for the DPW on Jan. 30, at an hourly rate of $22.97 for a 40-hour workweek.

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Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said that Davenport was hired further up on the pay scale because of his experience. In December, the Township Committee had hired two laborers for the department at an entry-level salary of about $15 an hour, he said.

The township had been waiting for the unsettled contract to be approved by both sides before filling vacant positions in the DPW department, McArthur said on Tuesday night. The township "possibly" may hire additional DPW employees, he said.

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The Township Committee subject to legal review and final approval. At that time, McArthur said the wages budget for the entire department — then with 28 employees covered by the contract — would remain at a level of less than in 2010 even through the first half of 2014.

On Tuesday, he again noted that the raises in the contract would not go into effect until July of each year in the contract.

Tuesday's resolution, approved 3-1 by members of the Township Committee present at the meeting, said, "All issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties."

But although Township Committeeman Scott Spitzer voted to approve Davenport's hiring, he voted against final approval of the contract, repeating his no vote from November.

"The totality of the contract is not as good as it could have been," Spitzer said, making a similar comment to his remarks in November. "Via collective bargaining, the township could have done better." He declined to specify futher.

One of the major changes in the new contract is that it abolishes longevity pay increases for new employees, McArthur said.

However, employees working for the department before the latest hires received a $1,000 stipend at the contract signing, he said.

In the meantime, the township continues to negotiate with the police department's bargaining unit.

Through attrition, the township eliminated three open DPW positions that will not be budget for in 2012, McArthur said.

Highlights in the DPW contract, according to McArthur, are:

  • Contract through June 2014
  • 1.5, 1.5, and 2 percent increases for 2011, 2012, and 2013
  • Pay increase date now July 1 of each year
  • $1,000 payment to employees already on staff at contract signing
  • New guide for new hires
  • Elimination of longevity payments for new hires
  • Sick time does not count toward overtime calculation, except for emergency call in
  • Meal provision if working past 5 p.m.
  • Sick leave capped at $15,000; incumbents capped at balance within the contract period


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