THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 7, 2009 UPDATED 9:25 A.M. E.S.T.: Alan Vianti, the neutral arbitrator assigned the binding arbitration procedure agreed to by the White Plains Police Benevolent Association and the City of White Plains in their year-old labor dispute, handed down a decision Monday deciding the White Plains Police, based on settlements around the region are entitled to a 3.75% retroactive increase in the previous 2008-09 salary year and 4% across the board in the current salary year now underway  (2009-2010), WPPBA President Jim Carrier told the CitizeNetReporter today.

Carrier said this morning, the police will again be without a contract as of July 1, 2010, meaning the new Bradley administration will be negotiating with the police again within weeks of taking office.

WPPBA President, Jim Carrier announced a binding arbitration award of 3.75% and 4% for the Police Monday covering 2008-09 and 2009-10 to WPCNR.

Carrier also said that the raises are across the board, all salary levels, and that the arbitrator rejected the city request for a freeze at the current entry level for all subsequent new hires.

Carrier also told WPCNR, the arbitrator rejected the city request that the number of years of service required to reach the maximum level of pay at a position be increased from 3 to 5 years. The arbitrator limited the union request for supervisors’ raises to 1% additional (the union had requested 2%), and detectives’ raises to 1% (again 2% was requested). Assorted other city demands were rejected by the arbitrator, including police demands for longevity increases.

The 3.75% and 4% raises are the same pay increases the Common Council rejected one year ago, leading to binding arbitration. It is expected that White Plains Fire Fighter raises will parallel that of the police award. The Fire Fighters are also in binding arbitration, being evaluated by a different neutral arbitrator, Roger Maher.

The 3.75% and 4% pay increases usually set the pattern for other city contracts coming up, with the Teamsters and the CSEA. The Police contract is for two years, meaning the new Adam Bradley administration taking office in January, will have to being negotiations anew with the Police and fire unions within weeks after taking office.

Jim Carrier, of the WPPBA, noted that the second year of the new agreement expires in sixth months, meaning the new Bradley administration will be conducting negotiations on a new contract within months, even weeks of taking office.

The settlement was not anounced to the public by the Mayor at Monday evening’s Common Council meeting, even though the meeting was televised and the award information was given to this reporter earlier in the day.

Asked if he had any comment on the possibility of layoffs in the months ahead due to city’s running a deficit, Carrier said he had no comment.

Joe Carrier, the President of the White Plains Fire Fighters, told WPCNR that Roger Maher, the independent arbitrator considering the fire fighter demands, has not notified him of his decision yet, but expected a decision from Maher shortly.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 4, 2009: The $38.5 Million “green building, eco-efficient, energy-saving” Post Road School opened to rave reviews in September with no reported glitches. However, the security lighting system in halls and stairways and entrances cannot be controlled efficiently due to flaws in the electric system controlling the lights.

Neighbors may be wondering why the new Post Road School has blazed like an airport terminal all night long 7 days a week these past three months. Fred Seiler confirmed the problem with the lighting to WPCNR Thursday.  The school according to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, has too many lights that are security lights which cannot be dimmed and are not motion-sensitive, and apparently, (it is not quite clear why), cannot be turned off individually.

Seiler confirmed the electrical-design perpetual lighting problem  in the new school Thursday afternoon to WPCNR, after a parent contacted WPCNR complaining about the waste and how long it has been literally going on.

Post Road School, Sterling Avenue entrance. Wednesday 11:30 P.M

According to Seiler the district became aware of the problem when the school opened in September and they have had “many discussions” about how to fix it. It seems the lights cannot be turned off individually. The lights in question are the main entrance interior lights, the three hall levels and the stairwells. Individual classroom lights are motion sensitive, and even dim according to the amount of light coming in the windows, as well as being switch-controlled.

New Post Road School, Wednesday Evening 11:20 P.M. Soundview Parking Lot.

Post Road School Cafeteria, Soundview Avenue side. 11:35 P.M. Wednesday Night.

Seiler said the problem stems from a misunderstanding between the architect, Kaeyer, Gartment & Davidson which called for the lights (which Seiler said were too many), and the way in which the electrical contractor wired the lights. “People say, well why don’t you just turn them all off,” Seiler explained, “but that’s no good either , because then you have no security lighting, at night.”

Seiler said the project for rewiring the lights has been put out to bid. He said he had no idea how much it would cost.

Parents familiar with the problem contacted WPCNR complaining about the problem. One said the lights have been on for months and they considered it a waste of money.

Seiler said the school district did not have an idea of how much the 24 hour lighting has eaten up in additional electricity bills.