By JOE LoTEMPLIO
PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh city councilors and members of the Public Library Board are not in agreement on the recently approved union contract.
Councilors believe the contract is too generous, exceeds the library's budget and sets a bad precedent for future negotiations with other unions.
"Things like this reverberate throughout the city, and I find that irritating," Councilor James Calnon (I-Ward 4), who as mayor pro tem serves as the council budget officer, said at a meeting Tuesday night.
Calnon called the meeting between the council and the Library Board to clear the air about the contract negotiating process.
He noted that the deal, which covers the period from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2011, will wind up exceeding the library's budget total for 2010, of about $810,000, by about $86,000.
"I'm telling you now rather than in September or November that if this comes up, that you need this money, I will be voting 'no,'" he said.
The library is funded by the city, but the board sets policy and negotiates contracts with the library union.
Calnon said the council should have been informed of the final agreement before the Library Board voted to approve it so they could offer input.
The deal includes raises of 2.5, 2.5, 3, 3 and 3 percent each year as well as an increase to base wages.
It also includes a 15-percent co-pay for health-insurance premiums, but there is also a 15-percent stipend for employees to cover the co-pay, which frustrated Calnon.
"I don't think this contract is taking us to the fiscal place that this administration and this council want to go to," he said.
"This is a difficult contract to look at in terms of funding it."
Library Director Stanley Ransom said negotiations were difficult in that they have been going on for nearly five years, in which the city has seen three different mayors, several new councilors and different chamberlains.
"It got to the point where we had to do something," Ransom said.
Library Board member Virginia Brady strongly said the council was informed of the process, and she objected to Calnon's use of the words "angry" and "irritating."
"You are not encouraging communication when you use that kind of vocabulary," Brady said.
"It feels like we are being scolded."
Brady said she believes the contract is fair to the employees and is good for the city.
"Quite frankly I think the council has let us down as a board and let the library down," she said.
Library Board President Roland Lockwood said further prolonged negotiations would have cost the city more in the long run.
"Whether you like it or not we are an independent board, and if we vote for a contract then that's it," Lockwood said.
Following the meeting, Lockwood said he hopes the council will see its way clear to fund the difference in the contract.
Calnon said he doubts that will happen.
"It will have to be put forward by someone here (council), and we will see if that happens."
E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
