Sayre council approves police contract [The Daily Review, Towanda, Pa.]

Dec. 14--The Sayre Borough Council voted Thursday to approve a three-year contract between the borough and the Sayre Borough Police Department.

Members of the borough's negotiation team said they were pleased with the contract, particularly the fact that it now includes health insurance as a negotiable item. The bargaining team will be able to negotiate the costs of health insurance with officers in future negotiations, said councilman Bob Flick. "We have our foot in the door now," he said.

JoAnn Sabatura was the only council member to vote no on the contract, citing her concerns with a health insurance premium for officers that she called "nominal, at best."

Officers will pay very little per month for health insurance under the new contract, Sabatura said, in addition to the receipt of what she referred to as "a significant one-time bonus."

The borough's assumption of the majority of health insurance costs over the three-year period may lead to either "a cutback in services or an increase in taxes," she said.

Councilman Gene Osmun voted in favor of the contract, but said he shared Sabatura's worries and was also concerned with the contract allowing the borough to "buy back" officers' unused sick time.

The contract is "competitive with other police agencies in the county," Osmun said.

The council also voted unanimously to approve a three-year contract to continue an agreement with South Waverly Borough to provide police services. The South Waverly borough council approved the agreement at a meeting earlier this week.

The council will hold a final public meeting in 2012, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18 in the council's public works building on South Thomas Avenue, to discuss how to spend over $334,000 the borough received in Act 13 funds.

Amanda Renko can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or email: [email protected].

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