The Hinsdale Village Board unanimously approved a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police Tuesday, the same day Community Consolidated Elementary District 181 and the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Teachers Association announced they had reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract.
Village staff and representatives of the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council have been negotiating since the previous contract expired April 30, Trustee Jerry Hughes said.
“It’s the definition of a successful outcome because no one got everything they wanted,” Hughes said, adding that everyone acted in good faith to reach the best agreement.
The contract calls for raises of 2.25 percent the first two years of the contract and 2.5 percent the third year, village manager Kathleen Gargano told trustees. The contract is retroactive to May 1, 2019.
The agreement also allows the village to hire a working police officer (below the rank of sergeant) from another department at a pay rate above starting pay.
“We are very pleased that we now have the ability to hire lateral police officers,” Gargano said, noting the village has experienced some challenges in recruiting new officers.
“To get a new officer in the pipeline takes a long time,” Village President Tom Cauley said. “The ability to hire lateral police officers gives us lots of flexibility.”
The agreement corrects an error in the previous agreement that provided overtime pay in some instances when employees did not actually work and gives employees up to 48 hours of accrued paid sick leave for family members for emergency situations, in addition to what is required by state law. Life insurance coverage was also increased for parity with other village employees.
The FOP represents Hinsdale police officers below the rank of sergeant.
Police Chief Brian King, Deputy Chief Tom Lillie, assistant village manager Emily Wagner, management analyst Jean Bueche, finance director Darrell Langlois and assistant village manager/public safety director Brad Bloom served on the village’s bargaining team.
Cauley said the 2.25 pay hike is slightly above the cost of living but consistent with pay rates in other communities.
“I think that all the compromises we reached were within the framework of comparable villages,” he said.
“Nice work,” he added. “These things take an incredible amount of time.”
Vote on D181 deal expected
The HCHTA approved a new four-year contract Tuesday, and the District 181 Board will vote on the agreement at its Monday, Nov. 18, meeting, according to a joint press release Tuesday from both parties. Specific contract terms will be available for public release following the meeting.
“The board, district administrators and our teachers look forward to continuing to work together to maintain and enhance the quality of education and fiscal stability of District 181 for the benefit of our students, staff and community,” the release stated.
