subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: November 05, 2008 01:28 am    print this story  

NORTH TONAWANDA: Council OKs union contract

By Neale Gulley
The Tonawanda News

Tuesday’s Common Council meeting was as busy as ever on election day, with a strong turnout, predominantly of students in the gallery.

Several important issues were raised or moved forward, including one to fund significant expansion of downtown North Tonawanda’s storm sewer system as a necessary step in realizing the Remington-Rand project on Sweeney Street.

About $120,000 was transferred from the general fund to bankroll the addition of a new storm sewer outflow there. City Engineer Dale Marshall had appealed to the council Oct. 15, saying the highly anticipated project to add a restaurant and loft apartments to the former Rand building could never pass the necessary environmental review without the work.

Also, a contract agreement was reached with AFSCME Local 515-A, the union representing members of the city’s department of public works.

Second-Ward Alderman Kevin Brick cast the lone “nay” vote to Tuesday’s approval of a memorandum of agreement with the union.

“We got a statement from the city accountant on what it’s going to cost the city for the contract and it’s roughly a half a million dollars from 2008 to 2011,” Brick said. “I’m not saying that the DPW is doing a bad job, but the way the economy is going the city is probably going to receive less aid and citizens don’t like it when their taxes go up.”

The agreement, negotiated between the city and the union over the course of ten meetings since March calls for about 16 changes to the current agreement, including an 11.5 percent hike in salaries over the course of the deal.

Salaries will increase 2.75 percent in 2008; a 3 percent flat raise, or 65 cents per hour, will take place in 2009 followed by another 2.75 percent in 2010 and culminating with another 3 percent the next year.

Several of the outlined changes actually specify increases in city spending. One, a two percent increase in the union dental plan, “amounts to an increase of $352.48.” The city has agreed to continue the amount paid toward a retiree’s medical coverage from age 65 to 75.

There was a one percent increase in the union optical plan, amounting to an increase of $85.09. Use of sick time will not affect the amount the city pays in medical insurance premiums, as long as a negotiating team determines the employee is eligible and has not abused sick time.

In addition, the city will agree to pay for unused sick time for retirees with at least 175 days accumulated sick leave, with a maximum of five days.

The city will pay an additional $549 for safety equipment.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting:

• A tax warrant was authorized to collect special assessments attached to the Briarwood subdivision project.

Notices for the city’s role in adding infrastructure to the project and surrounding area will be sent to residents of the potential lots to be sold as well as nearby residents. Thirteen parcels on Briarwood Drive and East Goundry Street total $449,742 in individual loan amounts resulting from the work and generally hovering near $20,000 apiece.

Keith Craigie, the company and the city of North Tonawanda itself account for another $93,339 in special assessments.

• Alex F. Domaradzki was filed as the city’s provisional appointment as the city’s youth center supervisor.

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

Cashiers
CASHIERS 
Looking for dependable people with great customer service skills to work in APlus Convenience store in Le
...>MORE

Human Services
HUMAN SERVICES. Transitional Specialist: (PT) Niagara Falls. Assist youth with 90 day transition programming, intake and...>MORE

Certified Pharmacy Technician & Certified Medication Technician
Certified Pharmacy Tech’s, Certified
Medication Tech’s & PCA’s Competitive wages. Call Lisa McKensie Ransomville
...>MORE

Director of Laboratory Services

DIRECTOR OF
LABORATORY SERVICES

Mount St. Mary's Hospital is offering an
excellent op
...>MORE

Mechanic
MECHANIC  Service company owned trucks, trailers, etc. 2 years experience and own tools.    Apply at 490 Ohio Street or...>MORE

TOOL GRINDER & WIRE EDM OPERATOR
Tool Grinder-exp. w/contours & blades,Wire EDM Operator-5 yrs exp., 3rd shift. Pivot Punch Corp., resumes: jobs@pivotpu...>MORE

Quality Control
QUALITY control, earn up to $100 per day, evaluate retail stores, training provided, no exp. req’d, call 1-888-702-9018...>MORE

PHONE SALES
Phone sales, high profile fundraisers, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. plus, Pete or Mike, 694-12...>MORE

Cleaners - Substitute
Cleaner Substitutes wanted. Previous cleaning experience preferred. Reply by Feb. 16th, to Mr. Joseph Giarrizzo, 100 Hi...>MORE

Assembly
NF Co. seeking the
following:
• Packaging
• Assembly (small
detailed parts)
• Sorters
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1998 Dodge Dakota Sport
DODGE 1998 Dakota Sport 3.9 V6, regular cab, exc in & out, no rust, real sharp, $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

Ford 1999 Escort ZX2
FORD 1999 ESCORT, ZX2 Coupe, runs great, NYS inspected, exc. cond. $1650. 694-0441...>MORE

Pontiac 2000 Grand Prix XL
PONTIAC 2000 Grand Prix XL, black,
good condition
531-2669
...>MORE

Ford 1997 Taurus
FORD 1997 taurus, runs exc. fully loaded, must see $1400 or best offer. 205-7711...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
DODGE 2001Neon, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 58k mi. am/fm CD player, n o rust, like new, $3950. 525-7796...>MORE

1986 Ford Mustang
FORD 1986 Mustang convertible, 5.0 body kit, 3.8L V6, 40k on new motor, runs but needs work. $700 or BO. 417-1611...>MORE

1999 Chevy Malibu
CHEVY 1999 Malibu, needs fuel pump, $700. 282-6141 or 990-6026....>MORE

1993 Chevy Silverado
CHEVY Silverado 4x4 1993 new alt, starter, exhaust, rebuilt trans., etc. Reliable. Call 282-0465....>MORE

Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI
Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI, 4 door, one owner, exc. condition, power windows, power steering, power locks, $5000 or best ...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index