HomeMy WebLinkAboutHandouts_Regular_Council Communications_11/12/2009As many of you are aware, I, as well as my wife were
police officers in the Village many years ago. At that time
there was no fire department and police were represented
by the Fraternal Order of Police when necessary. Because
of my affiliation with public safety I have always been an
avid supporter of police and fire and the men and women
who serve our community. Over rYiy tenure as a ~~'i~da~t
Council Member I have always fought to bring our
employees wages and benefits to a level I thought was fair
and equitable to both our employees and our taxpayers.
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Over the past eight years an organization called FOPS,
Friends of Public Safety, has been formed with the intent to
show community support for our First Responders. The
new Memorial you see on Village Green is a product of
FOPS and a tribute to First Responders. Continuing
residual funds to FOPS will be used to assist Tequesta's
First Responders in a time of need or hardship. I say all
this with the greatest respect and thanks to the Village's
police and fire department employees but of late have an
issue with the people who represent the police.
A few weeks ago I was surprised and shocked with a
communication the Village received from the Police
Benevolent Association. It concerns the reopening of
contract negotiations between the Village and the PBA,
with regard to their initial offer. Our economy is in crisis
al~d at~z~ ~a~pa~ ~:~~<~. w1~~8e ~Ilr~~~f~~s si~n~~rtin~.~ ~~,hl~~ ~~fet~=.
deserve better- consideratian. In checking with our
individual employees, and this needs to be said this request
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was not a rank and file decision. I am not sure what planet
the PBA is operating on but it certainly does not contain
the Village of Tequesta. It is n~1y job to represent every
taxpayer at~ld every er~~ployee fairly and honestly. It is my
obligation to find a common balance that serves al (. The
offer made to the Village by the PBA feels more like a slap
in the face than an offer made in good faith.
I would encourage every rank and file member of the PBA
to contact their representative and ask the PBA to take a
realistic look at what is going on in this world and the
Village of Tequesta. These next few years will require
understanding and belt tightening, with the realization that
we all must struggle and sacrifice for the good of all.
In closing let me again thank our police and fire e~~lployees
who do an exemplary job for our community. My remarks
are directed at the Police Benevolent Association who in
my own simple opinion, need to get a grip on the real
world. If I sound upset, you are close, discouraged and
disappointed is closer to the truth.