Washington Twp. Council Approves PBA Agreement

Washington Township officials and police have completed a new PBA contract which will last through December 31, 2014.

The council passed a resolution approving the agreement during their meeting this week and will vote on an ordinance authorizing funding for the contract at their next meeting.

The new contract eliminates terminal leave as of December 31, 2011, according to Mayor Janet Sobkowicz. Officers who have leave saved from before that time will still receive it, but they will not be able to accumulate any more.

Sobkowicz called the elimination of terminal leave a "major step" in making long-term savings for the township.

In exchange, the department's 18 officers will receive a 1.5 percent salary increase, Sobkowicz said.

"We worked very hard on the contract," Sobkowicz said. "I think both sides were very fair-minded."

The council also agreed during their meeting this week to purchase new cameras for the township's police cars.

The majority of the cars have cameras so old that the company which made them no longer makes parts for them, according to township Administrator Catherine Navarro-Steinel. Only two of the department's vehicles have up-to-date cameras, she said.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.