The City of Troy Personnel Committee on Nov. 10 voted unanimously to recommend that council authorize the Director of Public Service and Safety to execute a memorandum of understanding with police bargaining units to change how holiday hours are used, and requested emergency legislation to make the change effective Jan. 1.

City staff explained the police department moved patrol officers and sergeants to a 12-hour shift schedule in 2025; the existing contract was written for 8.5-hour shifts and currently handles holiday pay in 4-hour increments. "That doesn't work with the 12 hour shift," said Mister Chitterington, city staff, describing the bargaining units' request for flexibility in increments used for holiday pay. He said the command staff and the auditor's office reviewed the proposed change and had no issues.

Chitterington described the MOU as a mid-contract agreement that, if successful, can be folded into the next collective bargaining agreement at negotiation time (he estimated 1.5 to 2 years). On questions about carryover, he said employees "bank" holiday hours and the city pays out any unused hours at year end. Committee member Sam Pierce asked whether other departments operate the same way; Chitterington said practices vary by department and union but payroll and administrative staff can accommodate different increments.

What happens next: The committee forwarded the emergency authorization to council for final approval so the MOU could be implemented Jan. 1 if council grants emergency legislation. If the MOU is adopted and later negotiated into the contract, the change would be reflected in the next bargaining cycle.