Lower Merion Commissioners Postpone Vote on Union Contract

The Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners Administrative and Resources Committee voted to delay a discussion and action on whether to recommend approval of a four-year labor contract with the Workers Association on Wednesday night, but then the public and commissioners spent hours discussing that very topic during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting that followed the committee meeting.

The township meetings started shortly before 7 p.m. on Wednesday and did not end until shortly after midnight on Thursday.

The Workers Association, which represents 206 township non-uniform employees, ratified the proposed labor contract for 2011-2014 on July 28 “by a reported ‘very close vote,’ ” Township Manager Doug Cleland  wrote in a public memorandum to the commissioners.

The Administrative and Resources Committee was scheduled to vote on whether to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve the contract during its regular meeting that followed the committee meeting. 

However, Board of Commissioners President Liz Rogan made a motion that the committee postpone a vote on the contract as well as a committee agenda item to consider non-union provisions until a special Administrative and Resources Committee meeting on Sept.21.

Because of the number of questions commissioners have expressed about the contract during the days leading up to the meeting, “I was concerned that some commissioners might feel rushed,” if the vote took place as scheduled, Rogan said.

After much debate and disagreement, the committee voted 9-5 to postpone a discussion and vote on the agenda items, which were the only ones scheduled for the committee meeting.

Republican Commissioners Jenny Brown, Lewis Gould Jr., Philip Rosenzweig and Scott Zelov and Democratic Commissioner Cheryl Gelber voted against the motion to postpone.

“No matter how much lipstick you put on this pig, it’s not going to be attractive on the 21st,” Brown said.

Looking out at an audience of some 40 people, Commissioner Cheryl Gelber said people had cleared their calendars to attend the meeting and should have the opportunity to speak.

Several members of the public seized upon that opportunity during the public comment portion of the Board of Commissioners meeting that followed the committee meeting.

Gladwyne resident A.J. Kait, who is the , said he agreed with the decision to postpone the vote on the labor issues but “can’t fathom” why they would postpone comments from the public.

Kait said the commissioners might “get something of value” from the public’s comments that they could then add to their list of questions in order to “do a full job over the next month” of getting answers to questions about the union contract.

Rogan said her motion to postpone the discussion did not prevent the public from commenting and she welcomed questions during public comment.

David O’Connell, president of Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting, spoke against the proposed union contract.

O’Connell asked who was the independent compensation expert advising the commission, and upon learning that the commission does not have one, he suggested that the commission get one.

O’Connell said the “biggest concern” about the contract is township spending on healthcare premiums which he described as “out of control.”

Rogan said earlier in the meeting that there would be healthcare cost containment and substantial employee healthcare savings under the new contract: $1.4 million in savings over four years.

O’Connell said he “doesn’t believe it’s a good agreement for the workers,” and is only a good agreement for someone who is getting ready to retire. He suggested the township find a way to get more money in employees’ pockets and less money in the insurance pool.

Referring to the proposed union contract, Penn Wynne resident Ernest Pendeleton, a Lower Merion Township employee, said he is “baffled” by why Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting “focuses on such a small part of our tax bill.”

“Where was everyone when 88 percent of our tax bill was being budgeted?” Pendeleton asked, in reference to taxes from the school district budget, which are set by the Board of School Directors, and over which the Board of Commissioners has no authority. He said he has been to school board meetings and they don’t get the same attendance or attention about the taxes.

George McElhaney, president of the Workers Association and the brother of Board of Commissioners Vice President Paul McElhaney, spoke on behalf of the union during public comment. Paul McElhaney disclosed the relationship at the beginning of the meeting.

The total new estimated cost of the contract over the four-year term is $692,000, Cleland said in his memo to the commission. McElhaney said the “$700,000 additional cost to the township is nominal.”

“The made so many concessions on this contract it was unbelievable,” McElhaney said.

McElhaney said many township emeployees work in positions that put them at great risk. He said he works around high tension electrical wires, while other employees are working with trash, in sewers and around chemicals.

“A lot of positions we hold, our mortality rate is acutally higher than the police department,” McElhaney said.

McElhaney also called into questioned the motives of David O’Connell, president of Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting.  McElhaney said O’Connelll has a contract with the school district, “where the bulk of our tax money is going.”

Commissioner Paul McElhaney said because of the relationship he was not involved with the tonwship’s negotiations of the union contract.  However, the commissioner said he did not plan to recuse himself from voting when it came before the commission.

“I feel that there are many members of the community that need a voice,” Commissioner McElhaney said.

After public comment, the commissioners responded to the public comments about the union contract. Many commissioners said they thought the school district had a problem with its level of taxes but said they had no control over the school taxes, adding residents should attend school board meetings and contact the school board directors. 

Commissioner Scott Zelov said there was no question there were difficult jobs performed by the workers union but that it doesn’t mean the township should benchmark pay.

Commissioner Jane Dellheim said the cost increase of the contract amounts to $2.99 per citizen per year.

“I support the workers in their endeavors, and I did want people to know what the increase actually costs,” Dellheim said.

The commissioners discussed the union contract again, toward the end of meeting, when Brown brought up the topic as part of unfinished business.

Brown said it is appropriate for the union to want the best benefits they can get and equally appropriate for the board to oppose “excessiveness.”

“We need the changes now, and this contract does not do it,” Brown said.

Brown brought up several issues to which she was opposed under the 2007-2010 expired contract concerning wages, step pay, longevity bonuses, paid time off, sick days and health insurance; and as well parts of the new proposed contract such as cash bonuses, annual wage increases and “status quo” on health insurance.

For example, she said the union received wage increases of 3.75% - 4% every year under the old contract, while at the same time, annual inflation averaged only 1.95% and” many of you saw your wages decline. “ Brown said she also opposes the new contract’s proposed wage increase of 2.5% over current wages for 2012, another 2.75% for 2013 and another increase of 2.75% for 2014.  She questioned if the increases were reasonable.

Commissioner C. Brian McGuire disagreed with Brown.

“I think the role of this board is very simple,” McGuire said. “It’s the bottom line.”

McGuire said the new contract would cost the township 1 percent more than having the union work without a contract for the next four years.