The Unusual, the Not Good, the Phone Calls

So, what to make of the announcement this week that a handful of Police Department managers were getting demoted and taking a pay cut?

It’s unusual, it’s not good, and if I were a manager in another city department, I wouldn’t be taking too many calls from 345-9550.

First, the unusual. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of this before. It’s creative, I’ll say that. It’s obviously an effort to keep cops on the street, which everyone agrees is the top priority. It’s probably worth mentioning that the “demotions” aren’t based on job performance (obviously), but instead are a mechanism for lowering pay. I don’t know if maybe they’ll all get “promotions” in the future, but I do feel bad for the “demoted” and their families. A pay cut is never a happy affair. It would be good if they were given some preference on details (yes, more work, but more opportunity) to make up some of the difference. (Note: This is not an endorsement of details as presently constituted. But if we’re playing by the rulebook, use the rules to their advantage.)

Now, the not good. Obviously, this is in reaction to current and upcoming local aid cuts, and there’s more to come. These guys are the first victims, but there’s certainly more to come. I’m not sure if this is the final solution to keeping cops on the street, or if there’s more to come. There’s no way of knowing right now, but this is a sure sign that things are going to more difficult in the next five months. Layoffs were avoided, and hopefully that remains the case. It’s easy to hammer the classic city employee/donut-eating cop stereotype, but this is no time to be wishing someone out of a job. Put this way: If you lost your job tomorrow, how many options would you have for a new one? More and more, people are realizing the answer is “very few,” or “none.” While this is predominately about numbers and services, there’s also human decency involved, and I wouldn’t want to be the one handing out pink slips. That’s gotta play a role now, and later. But this doesn’t soothe any jagged nerves in City Hall and other departments.

Finally, that phone call. There’s a very interesting thought process that seems obvious here. The goal is to keep police officers on the street. How do we that? One way might be get higher-paid members to take a pay cut, and use that savings to keep offices out there. This wasn’t a random numbers cut. It had a direct purpose. You’d have to think that the Mayor’s Office might have similar ideas – or other department-specific ideas – up their sleeve. Are other department managers going to play the same ball? Will they have a choice? Chances are, the phone is going to be ringing soon, and their not going to have any choice but to answer it. I guess we’ll see.

Additionally, what’s up with the Police Department. I’ll admit it. A year, nine months ago, I was really turned off by the union’s moves on raises. Since then, they’ve led the way on contract negotiations by agreeing to no retroactive pay and taking a fairly modest annual percentage increase. (Note: I know people are hung up on those settlements, but please, please, please, don’t forget the general dismissal of retroactive pay. That is such a huge savings, and can’t be overlooked. I’d think we’d be doubling the numbers, if not more, if retro were included. It might not have been the best time to settle, but if you get nowhere, the unions dig in, and a year from now you’re paying the same raises PLUS another year of retro? Yikes.) Now, some of the highest-ranking members of the department are taking bumps down. Looking back, I still can’t get happy about the public tactics, but the contract and this move has me impressed with what they’ve done. Knowing the guys who took this cut, they’ve got a lot invested in the department and the community. It would be unfortunate if they left. Wouldn’t blame them, but it would be unfortunate. I guess we’ll have to see.

So, it begins. $250,000 or so down, $2,750,000 to go (probably actually more, but don’t let big math get in the way of a literary device, I always say).

A Busy, Busy Friday

A day off has turned very busy.

The Fitchburg Police Department announced this afternoon that it has made an arrest in last night's shooting death. Sadly, it's the first murder of the year. If there's a silver lining in this kind of thing, it's that the police caught the guy in less than 24 hours. Very well done. More on this later at Fitchburgpride.com.

There was a groundbreaking today at the TD Banknorth building. Big doings. There will probably something on that later today at Fitchburgpride.com.

I know what you're thinking, what IS at Fitchburgpride.com? Right now, a little Pride exclusive on MOC and Meals on Wheels cutting back daily hot meals to three days a week (with frozen meals dropped off for off days) due to budget constraints. Meals on Wheels does 900 meals a day in the area, so that's a significant change.

Finally, don't forget, 4:30 on Main Street today. We'll be there eventually. Little boys are having naps (sadly, big boys aren't)

The Chief's Decision

The rumblings started last week that Police Chief Edward Cronin was displeased with how the budget stuff went down, but he is unsure what he will do. I talked to him on Friday, and he didn't say much different than has been rumored and printed in the last few days.

There's two ways of looking at this:

The City Council took a look at the budget, and realized it could keep police officers but it would mean losing the dispatchers. They swallowed hard and made a tough decision, which they think is best for the city.

Or, the union went to the council, and said, "Hey, we want to protect our membership. Why not take a look at the dispatchers. Here's the numbers. See, you save nine cops, and you don't spend a ton of dough." Said or unsaid: It's an election year. Make sure you do the right thing. We have a strong and active union in the city.

So, the council, either taking the righteous road of the first scenario, or the political road of the second, cut the dispatchers.

Cronin was out of town until the end-game machinations went down. I'm torn on this issue. I think it's important for top officials to be around at important times, and that probably includes budget time, especially this budget season. However, I look at it personally, and my family life is my top priority. I'm allowed to take vacations, and so is the chief. It might have been the best time for his family for any dozens of reasons. I don't think you blame him too much. And hell, a cell phone and a computer, and you should be all set at this point.

Anyway, Cronin pretty obviously feels the union ran an end-around by going to the council. It's not so much that the council chose dispatchers over officers, but that the union went to the council and the council made a move to cater to the union.

So, what's Cronin going to do? I don't think he really knows at this point. I don't him all that well, but I think he's a smart guy who won't make a spur-of-the-moment decision. He'll think this over, let the emotions on all sides settle a bit, and then make up his mind. But one thing he's pretty much already decided -- the union has more juice than he does.

Police Union Calls for Raises

The president of the Fitchburg Police Union, Ron L’Ecuyer, sent a letter to city councilors today calling on the council to not eliminated union raises from the budget. L'Ecuyer says the union has made financial concessions in its last two contracts, and it's not right for the council to consider rolling back the raises. The council has said it will reconsider all negotiated raises if a final contract has not been signed as it tries to reduce the budget. For more, including the entirely of L'Ecuyer's letter, visit the Fitchburg Pride website.

Also, coming on the website in the next hour or so: A story on lowering dropout rates at Fitchburg High. A Department of Education report released today shows the rate has dropped by almost one-third at FHS in the last two years. Find out why in the story coming later today.