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Jersey City police officers on layoff list huddle with union as POBA readies for vote

Published January 23, 2011

Members of Jersey City’s Police Officers Benevolent Association will vote Wednesday on a city contract offer that would avert 82 layoffs, but union leaders say they don’t know what the outcome will be in the wake of “reprehensible” comments made by the city business administrator.

 

“Jack Kelly, because he didn’t like the deal, he stood up in a public forum and tried to torpedo it,” POBA Municipal Council delegate Fred DiMase told The Jersey Journal after today’s meeting of 72 of 82 officers slated to lose their jobs on Feb.  15 if a contract agreement is not reached.

 

POBA President Jerry DeCicco said today’s hour-long meeting held at the Astor Bar on McGinley Square was to bring the officers at risk of losing their jobs up to speed on the recent developments and the upcoming vote, as well as to address their concerns.

 

The officers, who appeared solemn as they entered and left the meeting, declined to comment.

 

After today’s meeting ended at about 2:10 p.m. the union leaders said accepting the contract would only guarantee no layoffs for one year and officers at risk now fear they could lose their jobs in 2012 if the city makes no guarantee. They noted that POBA members made concessions on healthcare and wages eight months ago but the city has already sought more concessions.

 

“What happens in 2012?” DiMase asked. “The general members would have nothing left to give back so the 82 think it’s going to be them again on the chopping block. They are always going to be the lowest on the totem pole.”

 

The city has already eased its demands since police held a raucous protest at a fund-raiser for Mayor Jerramiah Healy last month. Sources say the key concession being sought of officers now is deferment of a week’s pay until they retire.

 

Healy was also angered by the comments Kelly made on Wednesday while discussing efforts to rein in city spending at a forum sponsored by CivicJC. He said attempts to cut police or firefighter budgets raise complaints from their unions, and said the average city police officer and firefighter makes more than the average city attorney.

 

“God forbid we reduce police and fire,” Kelly said. “You’re going to hear both of those organizations say the sky is falling if we were to reduce any of those organizations.

 

Healy quickly distanced himself from the comments, saying in part, “Jack Kelly is the business administrator; he is not the spokesperson for the city and he certainly is not the mayor. His responsibilities include many things, but amongst them is certainly not disparaging our public safety personnel.”

 

The mayor said budget woes are in part do to a loss of more than $70 million in state funding to the city.

 

FULL TEXT OF MAYOR HEALY’S STATEMENT

 

Meanwhile, in another development, Chief Tom Comey sent a letter to Kelly questioning whether the business administrator wants to resolve the issue or “blame those that risk their lives every day.’‘

 

He urged Kelly to be “cognizant’’ of the effect his statements have on all municipal workers and said that his department’s staffing and budget aren’t “bloated.’‘

 

“We have done more with less for some time,’’ Comey wrote, “and we will continue to do so, no matter what obstacles or difficulties are placed in our path.’‘

 

FULL TEXT OF CHIEF COMEY LETTER

 

Kelly has not responded to requests for comment yesterday or today.

 

The vote of the POBA’s roughly 690 members will be at the Astor Bar using a voting machine.

 

Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal
Posted:  01/21/2011 5:34 PM