Frackville council approves police contract

July 10--FRACKVILLE -- The borough council approved Wednesday a four-year police contract that will see increases in salary and uniform allowances but will also require contributions to the pension fund.

The council vote was 6-0 with no discussion.

Councilman John Morgan, who chairs the personnel committee, motioned that the contract be approved.

"I'll make a motion that we approve the police contract from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2018, as presented to council, pending the review of the solicitor for proper wording," Morgan said, followed by a second from councilman Bradley Gotshall.

After the meeting, Morgan provided the details of the contract. The police department has four full-time officers and about five part-time officers.

"There is an increase of their uniform allowance," Morgan said. "Each officer will get $650 a year for those four years. They now get $500. Uniforms are very expensive."

Morgan said officers will get a $1,500 raise in 2015, followed by $1,000 in 2016 through 2018.

"They're going to be contributing into our pension -- three percent the first year, 4 1/2 percent the second year and six percent for the third and fourth years," Morgan said.

Health insurance coverage basically remains the same except for an additional option.

"There's an option in the contract where, if they decide to opt out on their medical insurance coverage, such as if they on their wife's insurance, they would receive a stipend for that, and the borough would see a substantial savings on it," Morgan said.

Morgan said part-time officers will receive a 50-cent an hour raise each year.

There will also be increases for officers when they are required to appear in court.

"When they go to (county) court for a full day, instead of getting time and a half, they now get $80 for the day. They're going to get $90," Morgan said. "And when they go to a magistrate's hearing, they get $30 a hearing now, but that will increase to $40."

In other personnel matters, the council approved hiring Emmanuel Garcia and Shawn Jessman as part-time employees as needed at an hourly rate of $10, pending record checks and physicals.

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