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November 5, 2009

PN, police association head to court

REESHA BROWN

PORT NECHES — It’s back to the drawing boards for Port Neches City Council and the city’s police association. At 4 p.m. Thursday, Council will consider taking action regarding an agreement with the Port Neches Police Association.

In a past report, City Manager, Andre Wimer said the Council had no complaints about a 2 percent proposed pay raise, a clause that provides for an open-ended contract, did not cut the muster.

Council members failed to vote on the contract in prior sessions because the existing language had been in place since the original contract in the early 1980’s, said Wimer.

“It appears there is no termination point to the agreement and it extends in pertuity. There is question whether that type of language is legally valid and enforceable,” Wimer said as previously reported in The News.

As a result, the city has filed a lawsuit against the association, said Kezin Lawrence deputy executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association.

“We thought we came to terms with the city about the contract, which calls for a 2 percent wage increase for employees in the department,” said Lawrence. “Sure, there were issues we didn’t agree on, but we thought that we could negotiate a deal and come to terms about it.”

After a great deal of discussion between the two organizations within the last couple of months, Lawrence said the city wants to handle the matter through district court.

“The city manager wants us to go to district court, join them and go through district ruling,” Lawrence said. “But there is no such thing as a ‘friendly court battle’. Our argument was if we’re going to fight over anything, there’s no sense in us (police association) handling that issue. We said If we’re going to go to court then we might as well get the court to handle this issue altogether.”

After a few days, Lawrence said the City sent the association a petition leading to a lawsuit.

Lawrence said the Port Neches Police Department is going to have to file a response to the petition and begin going to court sessions.

“We told the city that we would be willing to negotiate through mediation or arbitration, but the city declined,” Lawrence said.

Among other agenda items, Council will also consider approving a request from Trinity Presbyterian Church for an extension of the authorization of the Port Cities Volunteer Village, an organization assisting area residents with hurricane damage repairs, said Lori Cummings, assistant city manager.

“They came to council a year ago to get an extension to set up a village behind the church,” Cummings said.

Council will also discuss “Firefighting Recognition Day”, recognizing the Port Neches, Nederland, Groves and Port Arthur firefighters for their response to the devastating blaze that destroyed Dr. Pradip Morbia’s home Oct 14.

Council will also recognize two city employees, Bryan Klutts and Kevin Richardson, for attempting to rescue a citizen who drowned in the Neches River.

The council is in the process of casting votes for Jefferson County Appraisal Board of Trustees. The city manager according to Cummings, recommends the city cast a vote for Charles Lankford, who has been representing the area for several years.

Children who play at Meadowgreen Park may see some new additions in the future. After a resident requested the City’s consideration to make improvements to the park, Cummings said council will discuss adding new playground equipment to the park. Funded by the Port Neches Economic Development Corp., renovations will cost about $35,000.

rbrown@panews.com

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