PORT CARBON - The borough council Tuesday hired a law firm from Harrisburg to deal with two grievances filed by borough police and upcoming contract negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police, according to borough police Chief Jon J. Bowman.
"I find it interesting that the borough waited to hire this firm until after they opened bids to sell vehicles, because where do you think they're going to get the money to hire an outside law firm," Bowman said.
Council President Harold "Bucky" Herndon said, "That's not true. That money will go into our general fund."
At the top of council's meeting, the borough unanimously awarded bids to sell four vehicles it advertised for sale in March.
The vehicles and the high bidders were: a 1973 AMC 2 1/2-ton cargo truck, Joe Ferraro, $4,260.60; a 1985 Chevrolet D30 Military Postal Unit pickup truck, James J. Davidson, $742.10; a 1988 Cushman-brand golf cart, James J. Davidson, $412; and a single-axle flat trailer, Jason Thomas, $80.
After a 10-minute executive session, council member Ray Steranko said: "I'd like to make a motion to hire Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, a law firm, to handle all police matters, arbitration and contract negotiations."
It was seconded by council member Warren Thomas and carried unanimously. All council members were present. The others are A. Bernice Shirey, Mike Quercia, John Franko and Andrew Palokas.
The contact for the law firm the borough hired was Michael McAuliffe Miller, an attorney based in Harrisburg.
"Michael Miller concentrates his practice exclusively on management-side employment and labor law including employment and labor-related litigation before a variety of state and federal courts," according to the website for the firm, eckertseamans.com.
When asked about the motions after the meeting, Steranko would not provide many details.
"We have some police matters, maybe arbitration, and we do have negotiations coming up this year. The contract, a three-year contract, is up at the end of the year," Steranko said.
"The part about the contract is correct. It's due to expire December 31," Bowman said after the meeting.
The borough has two full-time officers, Bowman and Joe Ferraro.
According to Bowman, the council refused in January to enter into collective bargaining with the Fraternal Order of Police, Schuylkill Carbon Lodge No. 13, Tamaqua.
"What normally happens is you get a letter and you start negotiations and you have up until September. And if you don't come to an agreement by September, you have to declare an impasse. But the union's already declared impasse because they don't want to negotiate with us," Bowman said.
The FOP hired an arbitrator, Thomas G. McConnell Jr., Hummelstown, to represent them during negotiations.
At Tuesday's meeting, Bowman, on behalf of the FOP, hand delivered a letter to council, requesting the borough's financial records for the past three years.
Meanwhile, Bowman said borough police filed two grievances with the borough in 2012.
Steranko wouldn't offer any information about the "arbitration" he mentioned in his motion.
"This other stuff is off the record," he said.
Bowman said there will be hearings on these matters later this year:
- The borough dropped out of the North Central Highway Safety Network in Pottsville, a program which, according to Bowman, paid the borough for additional traffic enforcement.
"Because of that, we lost 40 percent of all our traffic arrests," Bowman said.
- The borough installed security cameras in borough hall in late 2012. Borough police were not satisfied with the choices council made in placing the cameras.
"It's a charge of an unfair labor practice. We're entitled to lunchrooms and they have a camera in the back room we use as a multi-purpose room," Bowman said.
Herndon couldn't comment on the grievances because it is in litigation.
Steranko could not be reached for further comment after the meeting.