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Commission backs ordinance to shift private‑duty police fee authority to council
Summary
The General Council Commission recommended sending an ordinance to the common council that would move authority to set vendor/private‑duty police rates from the chief and public safety commission to the full council after recent contract-driven pay increases for officers.
The General Council Commission on March 12 voted to recommend an ordinance that would require the common council, rather than the police chief and the public safety commission, to approve the vendor rates for special police work—including private‑duty officer assignments.
Attorney Wisniewski told the commission that recent negotiations with the police union raised officers’ private‑duty pay and that Middletown’s vendor rate was “lower than the norm.” He said councilwoman Blackwell requested a draft ordinance that would have the chief and the public safety commission recommend a rate increase to the council instead of retaining authority to set fees directly.
Chief Gio Costa told commissioners the public safety commission had approved a rate increase at its March meeting after the common council approved a contract that increases officer pay. “Our jobs are being paid at that old contract rate until the beginning of April,” Costa said, and vendors had been notified to prepare for a rate hike going into the summer season. He added the department was standing by for the ordinance discussion and for the common council to affirm any change.
Commission members discussed the fiscal implications: one member noted an MOU effective Nov. 11, 2024 raised hourly pay and reduced general‑fund receipts, and Attorney Wisniewski advised that a financing resolution specifying the new fee amount should be drafted and routed to the finance committee (F & G) so the council could act.
Councilwoman Fulton moved to approve forwarding the ordinance with the attorney’s amendments; Councilwoman Salafia seconded. The commission recorded ayes and the motion carried to send the recommendation to the common council for consideration in April.
The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final enactment of any rate change requires action by the common council and any necessary financing resolution. The council is expected to take up the ordinance and related resolution on its April floor calendar.
