Candidates Discuss Pension Reform, Police Unions

Seven candidates. Three open city council seats.
With Election Day drawing near, we’re giving voters the opportunity to get to know their candidates for Glendora city council. Every week until the election on March 8, we’ll ask the candidates a question and give each candidate the opportunity to answer and speak their mind. Have a question you want the candidates to answer? E-mail them to hazel.lodevicotoo@patch.com or tell us in the comments.

Question:
All city employees pay their full share into their pension funds. Should police union contracts reflect the same reforms? What reforms on compensation and benefits do you think should be enacted on police unions? What would you do as part of city council to make sure this is addressed?

Jason Nagy
Yes, the police should pay their full portion of PERS 9.653 percent effective with the new upcoming contract this year. I will be advocating for that. This would save the city $408,000 annually and $438,000 when both the POA and PMA are responsible for their contribution. We need to move to a two tiered system and gravitate away from the 3 percent at 50 for all new officers for long term sustainability. The public needs to know that for every police earned dollar the city is contributing 42 percent to PERS and jumps to 51 percent in 2015. These levels can not be maintained.

John C. Fields
All city employees… management and non-management…. Public safety and non-public safety…  should be treated fairly and equitably.  All union contracts (police included) should reflect the same reforms.

To present and negotiate the same fair and equitable terms and conditions with each bargaining group, you must effectively communicate the details of the contract and the rationale behind the offer.

I believe the city has allowed unions to proliferate and when unions grow and strengthen, it’s generally a sign that management isn’t working with employees in the best possible way.

Joe Santoro
At the last city council meeting the finance director gave an excellent and sobering report on the financial challenges the city has and will face in the future. He pointed out the financial impacts that public safety services will have on the city budget and the need to address significant increases in the cost for retirement benefits. It is important to remember that compensation and benefits are subject to negotiations with employee groups, and I do not think it is appropriate for me to circumvent that process. Having said that, if elected to the city council, I believe it is important that negotiations with the police association include serious discussions on making the same reforms in benefits that all other city employees groups have made including paying their full share of the employee retirement contribution.

Erica Landmann Johnsey
Due to the current economic challenges the country, state, and city are going through, everyone has to make some sacrifices. I believe that it is only equitable that ALL city employees are required to make the same contributions to their pension funds, not just certain groups.  

The city needs to work on raising morale and  by making the contributions equitable, we're heading in the right direction. The best way to introduce the contribution is through a tiered system which makes the contributions gradual for current employees. Also, newly hired employees could make the entire agreed upon contribution immediately. This would save the city thousands of dollars. The police union will have to ultimately agree to the contribution in the end.

Doug Tessitor
Yes, of course the police officers, both Police Management (PMA) and Police Officers (POA) should be treated the same as all other city employees and should pay the employee’s portion of the pension costs. Any other changes in compensation and benefits will also be subject to the negotiation process and I won’t prejudge the results.

It must be pointed out that our police department has been very responsible in their negotiations with the city in the past. They recognize the financial situation and want to be part of the solution for the benefit of the entire community. I fully expect that cooperation to continue.

Judy Nelson
Glendora has maintained a balanced budget thanks to current council efforts and city staff cooperation. It is imperative that we all continue to work together to remain in balance. Currently, 55 percent of Glendora's general fund is police compensation. The police officer's contract will be renegotiated in June, 2011.

As a newly elected council member, I will be actively and diligently involved in negotiating with the police union to reach a fair compromise. We must responsibly manage the citizen's tax dollars, while maintaining Glendora's safety and security.

Cynthia Carrasco
Mutual-gains bargaining between the city and police union will be key to our city's successful future. We have to implement a policy of shared sacrifice to increase labor-city management cooperation. I would propose the following:

1. Assure Glendora that union and city management are committed to maintaining the health and safety of all citizens.

2. Pledge to deal justly and fairly with employees to ensure high performance of their public service obligation.

3. Establish and maintain proper standards of wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

We can achieve significant savings and strengthen Glendora.