Time for a contract

As the Westbrook Police Association nears three years without a contract, the relationship between the city and its patrolmen seems as poor as ever.

As we report in a front page story this week, police believe the city has been withholding information about the cost of retirement benefits they want. City administrators deny they withheld any information.

Regardless of who’s telling the truth, it appears the cost of the retirement benefits is much less expensive than the city has previously stated. Instead of $11.3 million, the benefits would cost closer to $1.9 million.

That’s a big difference.

We question why it’s taken this long to reconcile such an enormous difference between these figures. Retirement benefits have been at the center of these negotiations for a long time.

The city asked police to pay for a portion of their health care benefits. In return, police asked for better retirement benefits. The city said what the police were asking for was too expensive.

And, that’s where negotiations stalled.

The city, understandably, hasn’t wanted to negotiate in public. But it’s hard to blame police for taking their cause public after being without a contract for so long.

Both sides have now recommitted to refraining from commenting publicly on the talks. We hope that’s a sign they’re headed toward some resolution because this has dragged on far too long.

Police morale is low, and many residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that police still do not have a contract. The police received a petition supporting them, signed by 167 residents last week.

Mayor Bruce Chuluda said he still believes what police are asking for is too expensive. If that’s the case, then the city has to find an acceptable compromise, because it’s long past time to get the police a contract.

Happy Trails

We were sorry to hear last week of the retirement of Assistant Superintendent Mike Kane.

Kane has served the School Department for more than 30 years. He deserves a debt of gratitude for that service.

Whenever we have called upon him with questions about the local schools or for a tour of a school construction project, he has been gracious and accommodating. For that, we are grateful.

We hope we have not seen the last of him and wish him well in retirment.

Brendan Moran, editor