• 2025-04-21 18:42:10
• Gun Violence

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local police officers now have a new labor pact following the Southington Town Council's action last month, with raises of 3 percent or higher each year for officers.

The council voted unanimously March 24 to approve key provisions of a new, three-year labor contract for the Law Enforcement Alliance of Southington, the union representing the Southington Police Department.

The pact would be for fiscal years 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28.

According to Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone, key provisions in the new pact include:

• Employees will receive wage increases of 3.25 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent over the three-year contract.

• Language discussing allowing the town to civilianize administrative duties.

• New hire probationary period reduced from 24 months to 12-18 months.

• Allowing certain officers to elect to take compensation time instead of being paid overtime when performing duties outside of their jobs.

• Employees will increase their cost share for health insurance premiums by 0.5 percent a year for a total of 1.5 percent increase over three years.

• There are provisions to provide years of service credits for salary computation for prior service as a police officer in other Connecticut towns.

This means officers who work in another department can be credited with additional service time in Southington upon retirement from the SPD.

"This is really a great example of labor and management working great together," said Ricciardone at the March 24 meeting.

"I'm happy to report we had a lot of cups of coffee and we had a lot of conversations. I don't think the union is elated over it. The town's not elated," he said. "But everyone feels it's a very, very fair and reasonable contract."

He said a key goal was to hire police officers with prior municipal experience, which Ricciardone said was good for the town, evidenced by the pay raises and the new retirement provisions.

Southington Police Chief Jack Daly and Southington PD Officer David Carbone of the union spoke before the council to discuss the labor agreement.

"People are realizing how marketable officers are," Daly said of how towns, more and more, are looking to hire certified officers with experience.

He said it "almost takes a year" from the time of hiring new officers, sending them to the academy, then completing field training before being fully operational officers.

Hiring certified, experienced officers, Daly said, puts them on the streets quicker.

"I think it's a very fair package," Daly said.

Carbone echoed those sentiments. "We have no complaints about the package. There was give-and-take, and we're happy with it," Carbone said.

"We appreciate you putting your best foot forward and working with each other on it," Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky said. "I know that these are difficult times that we're in, so sometimes emotions can be high on either side."

"But I do want to thank you for coming to the table and working together on it and doing what is best for everybody," Chaplinsky continued. "Everybody gives a little, takes a little."

The council vote was to OK the "key provisions" of the deal, whose language would be finalized by the town later.