Palmerton Borough has responded to an arbitrator’s ruling in favor of the Palmerton Police Benevolent Association on several grievances that have been filed against the borough.

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield issued a statement Wednesday morning on the happenings over the past few months as arbitration with the Palmerton Police Benevolent Association comes to a close.

“While much information has been shared, the (borough) council has chosen to remain silent in deference of personnel matters and to avoid any potential influence of a third-party neutral arbitrator,” Canfield said.

Canfield said that in January 2024, a conflicting interpretation of contract language led to the filing of a grievance regarding overtime pay. She said the collective bargaining agreement if a patrolman works in excess of his regular ten-hour shift, or 40 hours per week, the compensation to be paid would be one and one-half time his hourly rate.

She said the contract stipulates overtime compensation is for time actually worked and shall include, in addition to normal duties, attendance at training sessions required by the borough, attendance as a witness or participant in any judicial, legislative, or administrative proceedings, and transportation time to and from the patrolman’s residence to training or proceedings.

In 2023, Canfield said $172,276 was paid in overtime to the patrolmen. The department has nine contracted patrolmen, one of which was hired in May of 2023, she said.

“At the time, overtime was paid with all paid time off included,” Canfield said. “Per the contract, the patrolmen are afforded various types of PTO including: 10 days of sick time annually which accrues up to 130 days, between two and six weeks vacation after one year of service dependent on years of service, 11 holidays, and at the time, compensatory time capped at the federal allowable level of 480 hours.

She added officers are paid time for non-regular occurrences such as bereavement and jury duty leave. “The borough paid $616,087 in regular salaries of the patrolmen,” Canfield said.

“It is tempting to say for the amount of overtime paid, an additional officer would offset the cost. However, the department has insisted that shifts must be filled as officers take time off. The addition of an officer would compound the overtime cost concerns as it would leave more unfilled shifts as PTO is taken resulting in additional overtime worked,” Canfield said. “Moving forward, the borough will pursue the addition of part-time patrolmen to reduce overtime costs as they would be offered open shifts first. It has been difficult to find part-time officers in the past, adding to the concern of overtime.”

Canfield added that with overtime defined as “time actually worked,” council felt it was in the best interest of the residents of the borough, the taxpayers, to enforce this language as written at the beginning of the new contract after numerous overtime discussions with the PPBA representatives. Being unable to reach an understanding, the parties proceeded through the contractual process afforded to them for such incidents.”

Canfield said arbitration allows a third party to render a decision for those involved. In this instance, the arbitrator ruled in favor of past practice, instructing the borough to include paid time off toward overtime hours, she said.

“Through this process, the borough has gained invaluable knowledge of how to move forward in both the current contract as well as for negotiations in upcoming contracts,” Canfield said. “Now that the process has concluded, final invoices will be forthcoming, and council can accurately report on the cost of the process.

“While this has been a long and arduous process, council would like to thank the PPBA for their patience in this matter during the time it has taken to receive a formal determination.”