Council agenda - February 16, 2010
TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
7:30 P.M., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL, 84 SOUTH MAIN ST., CHESHIRE, CT
AGENDA:
1. Roll Call.
2. Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Presentation by Yankee Gas.
4. Amendments to local property tax qualifying incomes and tax credits.
5. Dispatchers collective bargaining agreement, possible executive session.
6. Police collective bargaining agreement, possible executive session.
7. Adjournment.
I'm looking forward to the Yankee Gas presentation. I've heard from people who want natural gas as an alternative to oil or electricity as their primary heat source. Of course, with NG the big issue is the cost of infrastructure - the cost to lay the pipe. But once the pipe goes by your house, NG may very well be the most cost-effective energy source available.
Also worth mentioning, dispatchers and police are the first two of five town union contracts that need to be agreed. The library, public works and Town Hall unions also need new contracts. I believe all five contracts expired on June 30, 2009.
Keeping in mind that I'm only one of nine - and cannot force anything to happen - my number one goal for each of these contracts is to move from defined benefit pension plans (DB) to defined contribution pension plans (DC). And I'm trying to be realistic about it. So if we could simply eliminate the DB plans for future union employees, I'd be pretty happy about that.
And for those of you who wonder about the collective bargaining process, I understand it's a three-step process:
1) Town management and a Union executive board tentatively agree;
2) Union membership ratifies the agreement; and
3) Council approves the agreement.
Tim White
9 comments:
Tim, before voting on any raises, ask to see the turnover statistics of personnel for the vaious department....and also consider the overall job market...low turnover/high unemployment should equal NO raises!!!
The current economy notwithstanding and remembering that Cheshire draws from the same candidate pool as other towns who also happen to pay better - do you really think that will position Cheshire to recruit and retain high quality staff???
Just curious, does the Town Management have any discussions with the Town Council before negotiating with the unions or do they go in with their own agenda?
What happens if the Unions and Town Management come to an agreement that the TC doesn't like, do they need to begin the negotiations all over again?
Forgive me if this is basic knowledge, but I have never been part of union negotiations with towns.
Just curious, does the Town Management have any discussions with the Town Council before negotiating with the unions or do they go in with their own agenda?
The former - the Council opines.
Generally, for six years my theme has been a move away from Defined Benefit Pension Plans and to Defined Contribution Pension Plans.
Do you really think that will position Cheshire to recruit and retain high quality staff???
- this sounds like a union slogan. How much staff do we actually "recruit" each year? and people don't just walk away from these jobs in the middle of their career because they can make a few thousand somewhere else...they don't want to lose the accrued funds in their defined benefit plan...
Tim, Yankee Energy is great and all but we all know that IF the town allowed them to come in dig up our streets to lay pipe that the town management will botch the project.
They can't get the roads paved correctly or figure out which sidewalks need improvement but you expect them to oversee the digging up our streets without issue?
As for the paved roads did anyone notice that these paved roads are now slicker then before?
The grand list is flat or shrinking. Big and small businesses are cutting back or leaving or closing. Promised real estate developments have been just that, promised. The student head count is decreasing - - -
Now is the time for the town to recognize the situation and begin doing less with less.
Where is the ICMA report on police/Chief relations???
How are other towns going to pay better if they are in the same economic straits as Cheshire?
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