Jan 7, 2016 2 min read

After more than a year, the Washington police union reached an agreement with city officials, providing a contract for 31 department employees.

Mayor and council voted to ratify the four-year contract with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 95 Thursday, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015.

“It’s a good thing for us and them,” said John Hritz, a city police officer and president of the FOP. “It took a long time and a lot of hard work, but it’s good for everybody.”

While police officers, like all city employees, continue to receive health care with no contributing cost, the agreement allows the city to reopen the contract when the fire department negotiates their contract, which Mayor Scott Putnam said should happen in the next few months. At that time, health care contribution could be renegotiated.

“I’m satisfied,” Putnam said. “It’s a fair contract.”

He noted the only other major change includes a cost-of-living pay increase.

Negotiations stalled between former mayor Brenda Davis, head of the police department and union representatives for months, with Davis contending she was being discriminated against because of her sex and blaming the union for failing to produce an arbitrator. Union reps claimed Davis monopolized negotiations and was busy campaigning for the primary election in May.

At its August meeting, council voted former councilman Terry Faust as lead negotiator with the FOP.

“I’d like to thank the union and Terry Faust, who put a lot of effort into negotiating,” said Councilman Ken Westcott.

In other department action, council authorized the civil service board to administer tests for corporal and captain because of Robert Wilson’s promotion to chief of police. Officer Steve Robertson will act as captain until that time.

Council appointed Cynthia Griffin, from the city’s tax collection office, to the city clerk position, filling the vacancy of Christy S. Thomas, who resigned Dec. 31.

An agenda meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 1.