ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Approximately two years after tabling an ordinance to increase police “extra duty” pay rates—due to possible costs to Englewood and officers working too many extra duty hours, City Council introduced a measure Sept. 17 to increase “extra duty” police rates to $85 per hour from $65 per hour.
A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29, said City Clerk Yancy Wazirmas.
After a brief discussion with Police Chief Lawrence Suffern, City Council voted 4-0 to introduce an increase in extra duty fees. Councilwoman Cheryl Rosenberg was absent.
In addition to increasing extra duty rates to $85 per hour, the ordinance raises “administrative fees” to $30 from $20.
Two years ago, the council tried to increase extra duty pay rates to $75 per hour but tabled the measure due to concerns about upcoming police contract negotiations and possible costs to city taxpayers.
‘Substantial increases’
“The surrounding towns had substantial increases to the fact that we were on the low end of the scale and…we felt it was appropriate to try and increase that so it’s reasonable with surrounding communities,” said Suffern.
He ticked off nearby towns’ current extra duty charges: Teaneck, $80; Bergenfield, $80; Tenafly, $95; Englewood Cliffs, $105; Leonia, $85; and Fort Lee, $95.
Suffern said that the extra duty hours come at no cost to the city since an outside vendor is paying all costs.
Two years ago, then-councilman Eugene Skurnick persuaded a couple colleagues to table the extra duty pay raise, calling it “a benefit” to police officers which should be part of collective bargaining negotiations.
Council President Katharine Glynn said a legal opinion on the matter found that not to be the case.
Responding to Mayor Michael Wildes, Suffern also said he did not believe extra duty hours are subject to negotiation under collective bargaining.
Suffern said the extra duty pay rate—which is paid to officers not on regular duty but assignments such as traffic control at utility work sites—has not been increased in a decade.
He said all costs are borne by the outside contractor paying officers for extra-duty hours.
In addition to extra duty utility work, other possible extra duty assignments include road pavings, road closures, and certain local events. The extra duty hours are 100 percent reimbursed by entities such as PSE&G, Suez, and other contractors who require safety/traffic control for workers and work sites.
Councilman Charles Cobb asked how extra duty time is “monitored” so that officers are not working too long and creating a “safety issue” and whether extra-duty assignments are being fairly allocated.
Suffern said he and Deputy Chief Gregory Halstead go through all the extra duty and overtime sheets to monitor who is working and how long they have worked “to see if there are any issues of concern.”
Suffern said if any officer believes he has been overlooked, officers will speak up and let that be known.
16 hour work day
“By law they cannot work more than 16 hours per day in any given 24-hour period,” said Suffern.
Suffern said every week extra duty sign-up hours are posted and hours are chosen by officers in alphabetical order; then the order is reversed to be fair to officers who chose last the previous week.
He noted later via email that extra-duty pay rates should be kept at $65 for non-profit groups and all others should pay the $85 rate.
The chief said the administrative fee was increased due to paperwork that must be completed in several city departments to record the extra duty time.
One concern voiced during previous consideration was that Englewood pays the officers for extra-duty hours worked and then is reimbursed within a month or so by the outside vendors.
The concern about delays in reimbursement was not raised recently.