The Clarendon Hills Village Board signed off on a new contract for police Monday that is retroactive to May 1, 2016 and runs through Dec. 31, 2018.
The deal covers nine police officers and includes salary increases of 1.5 percent on May 1, 2016, 2.25 percent on Jan. 1, and 2.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2018.
The salary schedule includes Step 1 compensation of $65,290 up to $90,125 after the completion of a 12th year of service, as of Jan. 1. Longevity pay of $1,000 after 10 years, $1,500 after 15 years and $2,250 after 20 years also is included.
The contract also stipulates employee contributions toward health insurance of 12 percent for single coverage and 17 percent for single +1 and family coverage, the same as was the case in the previous contract..
Officer Zach Finfrock said the nine officers covered by the contract are pleased with the new deal.
“The raise increases are fair, and negotiations went smoothly,” he said. “We also are pleased with keeping the same deal with health insurance payments.”
Each officer shall be evaluated on his or her performance over each past calendar year, the contract states. Officers failing to meet average performance expectations will be subject to additional training, counseling, or disciplinary actions.
“I think this contract serves the department and the village well,” police chief Boyd Farmer said.
Village manager Kevin Barr said contract negotiations took longer than otherwise likely would have been the case because Clarendon Hills police officers have joined the Metropolitan Alliance of Police as a collective bargaining organization, replacing the Fraternal Order of Police.
“Everything went pretty well; I think there are some built-in slowdowns when you’re working with a new group, and we started later because of the change,” Barr said. Negotiations began in July 2016.
“We believe it’s fair and equitable,” he said. “It’s in line with comparable communities.”
Village Board member Greg Jordan credited Farmer for smooth sailing during negotiations.
“I have to give credit to Chief Farmer for creating an environment of trust,” he said.
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