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WARREN -- City Council on Wednesday passed, by a 7-2 vote, a fact-finder's report that gives the majority of the police department's 41 full-time police officers raises of 4 percent this year, two 2 percent raises in 2024 and two additional 2 percent raises in 2025.
The union earlier voted to reject the fact-finder's report.
Because council failed to pass the legislation by emergency, it will not become effective for 30 days. At that point, a conciliation hearing will be scheduled. The conciliation report will determine the final contract.
The contract would allow officers with 15 years or more service the opportunity to buy their service weapons, badges and bulletproof vest for $1 each at their retirement or disability.
The contract also provides a $2,000 dental cap, requires the city to contribute $6.95 per month to a vision plan designated by the union and requires the city to contribute $1,500 per eye for vision correction surgery.
Councilmen Ken MacPherson and Gary Steinbeck, both at-Large, voted against the fact-finder report. Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold, D-6th Ward, did not attend Wednesday's meeting.
Steinbeck, who was a steelworker union representative for 35 years prior to retiring, stated he voted against the fact-finder report because the police union also voted against the contract.
"I'm not going to vote against the union," Steinbeck said. "When I saw the union was not satisfied, I could not be supportive. I have to support the rank and file and the union's leadership."
MacPherson voted against the fact-finder's report because he wanted to support the police union.
"I voted in favor of a better contract for the police," he said. "What the union wanted made more sense. The difference between what the union wanted, as far as pay, was not significant."
The union sought a 49-cent increase in each year of the contract, plus a four percent increase in 2023, and 3.75 percent increases in 2024 and 2025.
The city's current contract with the police union had expired on Dec. 31, 2022. The city and the Ohio Policeman's Benevolent Association held three bargaining sessions in October and November in an effort. There also were three formal mediation sessions in December and in January.
In other terms:
• The two sides could not agree on the establishment of a cadet pilot program, work hours, pay, holidays and health care benefits.
• The fact finder, John Buettner, and representatives from the city union, agreed to meet in six months to discuss, develop and implement the cadet program.
• The city is working to establish a police cadet program in an effort to help in the recruitment of new officers.
• The two sides agreed not to change work hours for officers.
• Juneteenth will be recognized as a holiday.