Westhampton Beach Village Police Garner Two Percent Raise

On Wednesday night, The Westhampton Beach Village Board unanimously approved a contract for its police department. The contract, which replaces one that expired in 2009, includes a two-percent annual raise that will expire May 2012.

The agreement also calls for the village to pay out a one-time off-schedule bonus of $93,400. Mayor Conrad Teller said that the bonus is to adjust officers’ salaries for the past two years, when they were working without a signed contract.

“It’s holiday pay, night differentials and overtime,” he said.

The new contract increases officers’ night differential rates by $400, among other changes to health insurance policies and grievance procedures, according a copy of the contract provided by Village Clerk Rebecca Molinaro.

New rules about suspended employees were also added to the contract: Officers are no longer eligible to earn overtime and cannot accrue vacation while they’re suspended. Suspended employees and those on leaves of absence are only able to earn their base salary and longevity.

“We’re happy we came to this agreement with the mayor,” said Village Police Officer and PBA President Steven McManus, adding that the village and the Police Benevolent Association were close to arbitration prior to the contract signing.

Teller said he was also satisfied with the deal.

“It’s better than one put down everyone’s throat by an arbitrator,” he said, adding that the village and PBA already had one hearing with a public employees relation board.

Because the new contract expires in May 2012, the village must start negotiating again in January, Teller said.

The new contract did not include Chief Ray Dean. He signed a separate agreement with the village in November. Chief Dean's six-year contract includes a two-percent annual salary increase and is retroactive to January 1, 2009. Prior to the contract, Chief Dean was making $149,624 a year. He will now make $158,624 a year.