Date: Fri 04-Oct-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-union-grievance

Full Text:

Police File Grievance Over Pension COLA Issue

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The police union has filed a labor grievance stating the town has denied

granting full pension benefits to recently retired Sergeant Klaus Ertl.

In a class action grievance filed September 26, the Connecticut Council of

Police Unions, No. 15, Local 3153, American Federation of State, County and

Municipal Employees (AFSCME), states that the first selectman has denied Mr

Ertl's request for a "cost of living adjustment" (COLA) on his retirement

pension.

In the labor grievance filed by the police union September 23, the union

alleges the first selectman misstates the terms of the police labor contract.

The labor grievance states the town is continuing to violate: the police labor

contract, past negotiations concerning COLA benefits for retirees, and a 1989

town interpretation of the pension COLA matter which concurs with the police

union position. Police Sergeant Henry Stormer, the union president, filed the

grievance.

Sgt Stormer said because the police union negotiated the pension COLA benefits

during the administration of former First Selectman Rod Mac Kenzie, the town

now doesn't now want to honor those benefits.

"This is an important issue," the sergeant said of the pension COLA matter.

The sergeant said the COLA involves a payment of $200 to $300 annually to

eligible retired officers.

Of the grievance, First Selectman Robert Cascella said "I don't negotiate in

the paper. I'm very surprised in Sergeant Stormer's lack of professionalism in

this matter...It's a personnel and labor issue. It's really not proper to

comment on these things."

In response, Sgt Stormer said "If the matter was taken care of in a

professional matter by the town... this wouldn't have had to go public."

Through the grievance process, the union seeks to have the town immediately

apply the pertinent pension COLA contract wording as it was negotiated in

1989, or refund to all union members the negotiated increase in their pension

contributions for the pension COLA since 1989, and allow the union members to

withdraw from the town pension plan and apply to a new fund.

The town maintains that for a retiree to be eligible for a pension COLA, he or

she must have worked for at least 25 years, and must be at least age 55 at the

time of retirement.

The police union maintains a retiree is eligible for the pension COLA at age

55 provided that the employee worked for at least 25 years, even if the

retiree hasn't reached age 55 at retirement.

The police are in the second year of a four-year labor contract which expires

June 30, 1999.

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Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 04-Oct-1996

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