Does Forks Chairman Chuss Plan To Turn is Back on the Police and Will His Re-election Bid Play Politics With the Police Contract?

Forks Supervisors need to be reminded that their first principle role is to provide for Public Safety, then good roads year round, and if there’s anything left over – Recreation.

These basic governmental functions are provided by Township employees and volunteers, whether within the municipal staff, public works, recreation, police or fire departments.  The Forks workforce has a long proud history of professionalism and dedication, serving courteously and efficiently.  Except for the all-volunteer fire department, all other Township employee salaries and benefits are covered under two separate collective bargaining agreements.

With ample time to accommodate the 2012 Forks budget process, non-uniform staff negotiated their five-year contract with Supervisors in quick order.  The five-year police contract should have been concluded similarly by Chairman Chuss and the Board last Fall to take effect on January 1, 2013.  That did not happen.  Instead, Chairman Chuss and his majority forced the police negotiation into arbitration.

The Supervisors have since hired a big time labor lawyer, who comes with an equally big price tag.  Not much else has happened.  The Chairman avoids informing the public about this contract arbitration while the mounting legal costs are billed to taxpayers.  The current stale mate keeps the operating budget in the black by paying police at 2006 contract wage levels, even after that contract has expired. The Chairman knows his house of salary cards will fold later this year when the Arbitrator awards a five-year salary settlement.  This arbitration award should occur before the November general election though Mr. Chuss has tried mightily to keep the issue of new taxes out of his re-election campaign.

Historically, these contracts have been negotiated quickly, fairly and cordially.  Chairman Chuss should have had a tentative agreement with police last fall when the 2013 budget was being finalized.  He didn’t want to face 2012-2013 tax increase discussions for obvious reasons, so the budget passed without real salary numbers for the police.  Realizing the financial realities facing the Township during these past budget cycles, the police and non-uniform staff did not make absurd demands.  Nevertheless, the police offer was rejected; community programs jeopardized, and needed equipment was not replaced.

In this economy all local government budgets are under stress.  Residents, who question police compensation, rarely, if ever, attend first and third Thursday Board meetings to speak on this issue.  Citizens concerned about tax increases would do well to attend Board meetings and ask for full disclosure of Forks discretionary budget funds and whether political games are being played with the police contract?  Neighbors who put Community First understand that the Board’s primary responsibility is Public Safety, before ball fields, before skate parks, and before re-election campaigns. 

Lilly Gioia and C. David Howell, Editors

Community First Blog