GIRARD — Concerns about one section of the tentative agreement with police captains and sergeants led city council on Monday to vote 6-1 against the two-year agreement.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, said he asked Law Director Maurus Malvasi if the mayor giving police employees non-negotiated days should be allowed by the administration.

“By us voting on this, we are condoning that type of activity and allowing that to happen. I am fine with the rest of the contract, but I can’t agree to that section of the contract that was deemed illegal by the law director,” Grumley said.

He said that section of the contract is in contradiction to what was said at the last meeting by Malvasi.

The section in question is where the mayor or safety service director makes the determination to close the administration building early the day before a recognized holiday, officers shall receive additional holiday time off in an amount equal to the hours off provided to employees in city administration. The usage of the additional holiday time shall be given only if it does not create overtime.

Grumley said he supports equal treatment for all city employees, but disagrees with the mayor granting non-negotiated time off without council’s approval.

“I can’t support a contract for non-negotiated days. That makes a financial impact on the city,” he said.

Council President Reynold Paolone, who does not vote on contracts unless there is a tie vote, said Malvasi ruled the mayor cannot and does not have the power to give the officers days off that are not negotiated in a contract.

He said the officers were given a half day off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Paolone said officers have been given 6.5 days off since Mayor Mark Zuppo has been in office.

Councilman Mark Standohar, D-2nd Ward, and Paolone said Zuppo also gave the staff who were named “Employees of the Month” a full day off and eight hours comp time.

Councilwoman-at-Large Lily Martuccio requested a renegotiated contract be brought back to council at the Dec. 15 meeting.

Councilman Jeff Kay, D-3rd Ward, cast the only “yes” vote supporting the ordinance.

Malvasi said the officers and council can bargain for those days off and agree to it in a contract.

CONTRACT RATES

The proposed agreement also has sergeants receiving compensation based upon their time in rank or classification seniority. Effective in January, a rank differential of 14% shall be maintained between the top police officers rate and the sergeant’s rate and between the sergeant’s rate and the captain’s rate.

Effective January 2027, the rank differential shall be 15%. Effective the last pay period in fiscal year 2027, the rate differential shall be increased to 16%.

Robin Bell, negotiator for the police employees, said the rank differential is common practice for police contracts.

“These are the officers who stay with the department and have a career here,” Bell said.

Councilman John Moliterno, D-at Large, said there should be something in the contract requiring officers to attend updated training on use of their firearms. He said regardless of rank, the firearm training should be required.

Bell said if this were required, there would be an allowance paid to the employees. Also proposed was increasing the uniform allowance by $100.

Bell said the medical insurance agreed upon is the same as the other police bargaining unions. Bell told council she would go back to the police union about the one section in the contract.

“I will go back to them and explain why it was voted down and what may need changed,” Bell said.

The contract represents one captain and three sergeants. Paolone said if the contract is brought back to council with the proposed changes, they will vote on it, but if there is no change, it likely will be voted down again.