Yet that’s the bill taxpayers face this year, thanks to
vague language in the contract. In the contract, officers are allowed
tuition reimbursement for educational courses that would better them in
their career field.
WEST WINDSOR — When a state
appointed arbitrator settled a police contract in 2011, the town
never thought it would be paying more than $80,000 by 2013 for
helicopter lessons.
However the classes they can take are not specified and two officers took that as a green light to take aviation lessons.
West Windsor is now seeking legal action to prevent having to repay the
money for lessons involving a vehicle it does not own.
Recently the town filed an appeal with the Superior Court in hopes of
proving the violation and overturning an arbitrator’s Nov. 19 ruling
that denied the town of abstainment.
”The intent of
educational expense reimbursement for officers is to reimburse them on
courses that have to do with their jobs,” said Township Attorney Michael
Herbert. “We hope the court sees that the taxpayers of West Windsor are
being sandbagged by this arbiter’s decision.”
The town was
forced to arbitration when the council decided not to take action on the
contract recommendations made by the administration a couple of years
ago. Because council did not vote, the contract’s decision was
automatically left to the state-appointed arbiter. According to Mr.
Herbert, arbiters usually rule in favor of the police.
Since
then, the arbiter has ruled the town must honor the contract and repay
the helicopter lessons. Just in 2011, the two police officers racked up a
$14,860 flight school bill. According to Councilman Bryan Maher, there
is also $38,000 outstanding in requests, bringing the current total to
$53,000 for the lessons.
”This is not the end of hearing about
this issue moving into next year,” said Mr. Maher at the Dec. 17
meeting. “I think it’s abusive.”
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh
confirmed the officers are continuing their aviation courses, which
could make that bill jump to $83,000 in 2013 if the court does not rule
in the townships’ favor.
”This is the first time we have had
this kind of situation and I’m very disappointed with the officers,
especially since they know the township doesn’t have helicopters,” said
Mayor Hsueh. “I hope the Appellate Division makes a reasonable decision,
but until then there’s not much we can do about it.”
Under the advice of the attorney, the mayor said he could not give the names of the two officers.
Mr. Herbert was not only disappointed with the arbiter’s decision, but
frustrated the police officers continue to waste taxpayer dollars for
what appears to be a hidden agenda.
”The intent of the police
officers is to go retire with a comfortable pension and then get a job
as a helicopter pilot — all on the backs of the West Windsor taxpayers,”
he said. “It’s a real outrage and we want to take every action possible
to have this overturned.”
The court is reviewing the case and
will decide whether it will pursue a hearing. If West Windsor ends up
losing, Mr. Herbert said they would explore the option of filing a
petition with the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mayor Hsueh was unsure of
the legal expenses associated with the legal action.
The
police contract is up in 2013, which will bring another round of
negotiations to the table. Mayor Hsueh said he was confident this time
council would vote in support of the administration’s recommendations to
prevent another arbitration intervention.
This time around,
the mayor wants to tighten the requirements for tuition reimbursement by
having Business Administrator Marlena Schmid decide what educational
courses are allowed to be taken.
The helicopter lesson
situation is almost certain to impact the upcoming police contract
negotiations. It appears the two officers may have made it harder for
their colleagues to be reimbursed for classes in the future.
”The next time in negotiations police officers will get nothing. There’s
going to be some real restrictions on any real tuition reimbursements,”
said Mr. Herbert. “In the end, it really hurts the whole police force
and the officers who are making legitimate requests for reimbursement.”
West Windsor Police Pay: http://php.app.com
Story and reaction/comments: http://m.centraljersey.com
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