Police Union Negotiations Strain Town Legal Budget

The town of New Canaan has spent more than $40,000 in legal fees during the fiscal year which began July 1, Gary Conrad, town CFO reported to the at their meeting on Tuesday.

The largest portion of that amount, about $36,000 has been for legal services in connection with the , Local 1575. In October, when negotiations broke down, the town and Union agreed to submit to mediation. The .

"I think it's really unfortunate that we're spending that kind of money on legal fees for this purpose," said First Selectman, Rob Mallozzi. He said that with mediation still ongoing, and a total budget of $50,000 for legal services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, .

Mallozzi said, and Conrad confirmed, that in 2005, the last year of union contract negotiations, the town spent approximately $7,000 on related costs.

The discussion was part of the presentation of current legal bills submitted for approval to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting, a practice which has become a standing agenda item at BOS meetings.

Other Business Included:

• The approval of appointments and reappointments, including John Kanter and John Sheffield as alternate members of the . While praising the qualifications of the candidates, and supporting their appointment, Board member Beth Jones said, "I still feel very strongly that the way we work the Board of Finance is not in the best interests of the town." Jones said their appointment by the BOS, rather than election, and the structure of Finance with the First Selectman as chair concerned her.

• obtained approval to seek a bid from one vendor for the installation of new radio consoles for the Police Department, replacing the current system, which they said was twelve to thirteen years old. The consoles are expected to cost approximately $460,000 and the total renovation is estimated to be just less than $600,000. 

• Jim Cole, the Deputy Director of the received approval to renew the OEM's annual contract with Blackboard Connect for the emergency outcall telephone notification system at $17,500, the same annual rate as last year. He reported that the system was used for sixty-four messages in the last twelve months with a penetration rate as high as 85% for the 9500 registered users.