Budget Contains Salary Freeze for Police

The proposed town budget released Tuesday evening contains a salary freeze for police officers.

Town Administrator Jim Gildea said the budget proposal does not contain a salary increase for police officers. The town is currently in the middle of contract negotiations with the PBA regarding the next police contract.

Gildea, and Councilman Mark Ciarrocca, both declined to comment on the status of the PBA negotiations but noted they remain on-going. Both said the PBA has been informed that no salary increase has been budgeted for.

Last week, the Town Council ratified new contracts with the firefighters' union and the Teamsters local representating Department of Public Works employees, both of which called for one year salary freezes as part of the contract. At the time, town officials said they hoped to wrap up the police negotiations soon.

In addition, last week Gildea announced that all non-union employees in the town have accepted a one year salary freeze as a part of the town budget. The town government salary freezes come at the same time as the Westfield Education Association has rejected calls from Gov. Chris Christie and Board of Education member Mitch Slater to agree to a one year salary freeze for teachers. WEA President Kim Schumacher said in April that a salary freeze would have a negative impact on teacher pensions going foward.

Ciarrocca noted that the salary freezes agreed to by the firefighters, Teamsters and non-union employees have helped reduce the need for lay0ffs in the proposed budget.