Ford City Full-time Police Retiring Within Year
by Jonathan Weaver
Both Ford City full-time police sergeants are poised to leave the department by the end of 2015.
Last night, Ford City Borough Council members unanimously voted to adopt a new Memorandum of Agreement; though, the agreement would become void if an ordinance amending the police pension plan does not go through.
Ford City Police Sergeant Officer-in-Charge John Atherton - shown with Mayor Marc Mantini last month - would be eligible to retire at year’s end upon successful adoption of an amendment to the current police pension plan (KP File Photo)
Sergeants John Atherton and Mark Brice – also chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the Ford City Borough Police Department Wage and Police Committee – both have signed the agreement.
The ordinance reducing the retirement age from 55 to 50 years old would allow for Sgt. Atherton to retire at the end of the year, with officials also negotiating the early retirement/buyout agreement with Sgt. Brice.
Sgt. Atherton – the department’s office in charge since 2010 - celebrated 25 years within the local department in June 2014 and indicated at that time his hopes to stay within the department until 2020.
According to Borough Manager Eden Ratliff, if the agreement is approved, a third full-time officer would not have to be hired as previously awarded.
“This agreement would satisfy the full-time police union and would not require the Borough Council to hire a third full-time officer,” Ratliff said. “There would be no full-time police officers, unless Council chose to hire additional officers.”
Police Committee Chair Vickie Schaub said a report may be given “shortly” on three police coverage options for the Council’s consideration.
Ford City Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos – and a member of the Police Committee - said council members do not expect the town to be without a police presence.
During the public meeting and after, Mayor Marc Mantini said this was the first time he saw the agreement, though Ratliff said he has been briefed multiple times on the issue.
“These agreements are very expensive propositions,” Mayor Mantini said. “Nobody’s ever come to me on this, and the Mayor is in charge of public safety in the community – who’s going to police the borough?”
In response to a question posed by former Ford City Borough Council President Lou Vergari, the agreement only satisfies negotiations with the police union and does not affect the three part-time officers.
According to the five-page proposed agreement, Atherton will receive a $10,000 life insurance policy upon his retirement and will be paid for all unused sick leave.
Effective at the beginning of 2016, Brice will receive a $25,000 severance payment.
An actuarial study was performed by Mockenhaupt Benefits Group in December 2014.
“It addresses everything regarding severance payments to healthcare to life insurance, buyback of sick time,” Ratliff said. “At this point, the Council is entertaining a vote to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding; however, this is not the last time we’ll see it and it does not make it official.”
The police pension plan ordinance lowering the retirement age will be advertised for seven days
The current public safety budget allows for 120 hours of local police coverage per week, leaving approximately 50 hours to be patrolled by Pennsylvania State Police troopers out of East Franklin Township.
During the month of August, Ford City Police officers responded to 29 calls and made 20 arrests.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers responded to 45 calls in the same time period.
The matter may also be discussed more at a special council meeting held at 6PM this Monday in the Ford City Public Library.
In other Council action, the six council members unanimously authorized Council President Kathy Bartuccio to sign the lease agreement with Armstrong School District officials leasing the former Ford City Junior-Senior High School parking lot for $1 after Solicitor Anthony Vigilante’s approval.
The lease can be terminated if necessary to coincide with the sale of the building – which was closed effective at the end of the 2014-15 school year.
Miklos – who was thrilled a month ago after school board officials unanimously approved the agreement - asked that council members go back to the school board and rather ask if that can be donated or sold to the municipality.
The parking lot would be primarily used by Allegheny Health Network.
Ford City Mayor Marc Mantini (right) said this is the first he heard about ordinance amendments or buy-out agreements of full-time officers in the Ford City Police Department and was concerned for public safety in 2016 if enacted.
By newvoice, September 15, 2015 @ 7:35 AM
MAYBE THIS SHOULD SAY…..FORD CITY COUNCIL BUYS KITTANNING PAPER FOR $2800.00 TO NOT WRITE ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THEM.TONIGHT- THANK YOUR TALK SHOW HOST FOR THROWING YOU A BONE……JERRY AND VICKI’S REVENGE AGAINST THE LEADER TIMES FAILED JUST LIKE THEY HAVE FAILED THIS BOROUGH….SAY GOOD BYE VICKI AND JERRY……HAVE A GOOD CRY. P.S. VICKI YOU SHOULD THROW ME OUT OF THE C.U. CLUB ALSO….
By Just sayin, September 15, 2015 @ 9:29 AM
All of us liberals are going to have to load up on the guns to protect our homes.