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Politics & Government

L.M. Twp. Commissioners Postpone Union Contract Vote

Despite the vote to delay discussion of the contract, the public and the the Board spent hours debating the topic.

The Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners' Administrative and Resources Committee voted Wednesday night to delay a discussion and action on whether to recommend approval of a four-year labor contract with the Workers Association, the township's employee union.

But following the committee hearing, the public and and the commissioners then spent hours discussing that very topic during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting.

The township meetings started shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday and did not end until shortly after midnight Thursday.

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The Workers Association, which represents 206 township non-uniform employees, ratified the proposed labor contract for 2011-2014 on July 28 “by a reported ‘very close vote,’” Township Manager Doug Cleland wrote in a public memorandum to the commissioners.

The Administrative and Resources Committee was scheduled to vote on whether to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve the contract. However, Board President Liz Rogan made a motion that the committee postpone a vote on the contract—as well as a committee agenda item to consider non-union provisions—until a special Administrative and Resources Committee meeting on Sept.21.

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Because of the number of questions expressed about the contract during the days leading up to the meeting, “I was concerned that some commissioners might feel rushed,” if the vote took place as scheduled, Rogan said.

After much debate and disagreement, the committee voted 9-5 to postpone. Commissioners Jenny Brown, Cheryl Gelber, Lewis Gould Jr., Philip Rosenzweig and Scott Zelov voted against the motion to postpone.

“No matter how much lipstick you put on this pig, it’s not going to be attractive on the 21st,” Brown said.

Looking out at an audience of some 40 people, Gelber (the lone Democrat to vote against the postponement) said people had cleared their calendars to attend the meeting and should have the opportunity to speak.

Several members of the public seized upon that opportunity during the public comment portion that followed the committee meeting, including Gladwyne resident A.J. Kait, a Republican candidate for the Board in November (Ward 1). 

Kait agreed with the decision to postpone the vote on the labor issues but said the commissioners might “get something of value” from the public to add to their list of questions in order to “do a full job over the next month” regarding resolution of the union contract. (Rogan said her motion did not prevent public comment)

David O’Connell, president of Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting, suggested that the commission get an independent compensation expert to advise the commission on the labor matter. He added that his “biggest concern” about the contract is township spending on healthcare premiums, which he described as “out of control.”

Rogan said earlier in the meeting that there would be healthcare cost containment and substantial employee healthcare savings under the new contract: $1.4 million in savings over four years.

O’Connell said he believes the contract is only a good agreement for someone who is getting ready to retire, and suggested the township find a way to get more money in employees’ pockets and less money in the insurance pool.

Penn Wynne resident Ernest Pendeleton, a Lower Merion Township employee, countered O'Connell by saying he was “baffled” by why Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting “focuses on such a small part of our tax bill.”

“Where was everyone when 88 percent of our tax bill was being budgeted?” Pendeleton asked, in reference to taxes from the school district budget, which are set by the Board of School Directors, and over which the Board of Commissioners has no authority. School board meetings get nowhere near the same attention with regard to taxes, he said.

The total new estimated cost of the contract over the four-year term is $692,000, Cleland said in his memo to the commission. George McElhaney, president of the Workers Association, said at the meeting that the “$700,000 additional cost to the township is nominal.”

“The made so many concessions on this contract it was unbelievable,” he said.

McElhaney said many township emeployees work in positions that put them at great risk. He said he works around high tension electrical wires, while other employees are working with trash, in sewers and around chemicals.

“A lot of positions we hold, our mortality rate is acutally higher than the police department,” McElhaney said.

McElhaney also called O’Connell's motives into question, claiming that O’Connelll has a contract with the school district “where the bulk of our tax money is going.”

McElhaney is the brother of Board of Commissioners Vice President Paul McElhaney, who disclosed the relationship at the beginning of the meeting. Commissioner McElhaney said because of the relationship he was not involved with the tonwship’s negotiations of the union contract. However, the commissioner said he did not plan to recuse himself from voting when it came before the commission.

“I feel that there are many members of the community that need a voice,” Commissioner McElhaney said.

After public comment, the commissioners responded. Commissioner Scott Zelov said there was no question there were difficult jobs performed by the workers union, but it doesn’t mean the township should benchmark pay.

Commissioner Jane Dellheim said the cost increase of the contract amounts to $2.99 per citizen per year.

“I support the workers in their endeavors and I did want people to know what the increase actually costs,” Dellheim said.

The commissioners discussed the union contract again, toward the end of the meeting, when Brown brought up the topic as part of unfinished business. She said it is appropriate for the union to want the best benefits they can get, but equally appropriate for the board to oppose “excessiveness.”

“We need the changes now and this contract does not do it,” said Brown, a Republican candidate for Montgomery Country Commissioner in November's election.

Brown brought up several issues she was opposed under the 2007-2010 expired contract, concerning wages, step pay, longevity bonuses, paid time off, sick days and health insurance—along with parts of the new proposed contract such as cash bonuses, annual wage increases, and the “status quo” on health insurance.

For example, she said the union received wage increases of 3.75 to 4 percent every year under the old contract, while annual inflation averaged only 1.95 percent. Brown said she also opposes the new contract’s proposed wage increase of 2.5 percent over current wages for 2012, another 2.75 percent for 2013 and an additional 2.75 percent for 2014. She questioned if the increases were reasonable.

Commissioner Brian McGuire disagreed with Brown.

“I think the role of this board is very simple,” McGuire said.  “It’s the bottom line.”

McGuire said the new contract would cost the township just 1 percent more than having the union work without a contract for the next four years.

 

 

 

 

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