After a brief closed session during Tuesday evening’s (April 21st) meeting, the Danville City Council unanimously approved the Danville Policemen’s Unit 11 May of 2025 agreement. Chief Christopher Yates explained afterwards that this is for all police officers under the rank of sergeant, and that it is retroactive to May 1st of last year once signed off by all parties.
AUDIO: I believe that the raises are reflective of the standard and expectations of our officers; and what we hold them to, and what we expect out of them, and what I know that they’re capable of doing.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr stated that he didn’t believe there was too much trouble getting this taken care of, except for a few logistical things.
AUDIO: Unfortunately, the chief negotiator had some health issues, their union representative. And then also, between deaths in families and things like that, it just kind of took us a little bit longer. It was never some major disagreement. It was always a matter of timing and wellness, I think, in getting this done.
As for the still pending contract with the firefighters union, Williams says a new proposal was recently sent by the city, and he’s hoping it’s before the Council next month.
Meanwhile, the Council passed, 13 to 1, an amendment to the City Code Pertaining to the Compensation of Municipal Employees. Mayor Williams explained that this had nothing to do with the mayor, the council, or any elected positions. It was more about some recent changes being taken care of.
AUDIO: Positions that we’d had vacant previously, now we have them filled. So installing the numbers for those hire rates; as well as we created the new positions for deputy director for mass transit; and the bus driver positions we added for taking over CRIS were added into the wage chart as well.
Alderman Doug Ahrens was the one ‘no’ vote to the city employee compensation update. He reflected on why afterwards.
AUDIO: The overall sum is not consistent with what we are awarding to bargaining units, is one issue. Two, there’s positions on there that I don’t believe are critical to our mission. As I’ve indicated, I think we need to shrink government, and continuing to add increases to an already, what I consider, oversized city government, is not beneficial, long term.
As for the other recently debated Danville salary issues; such as a raise for the mayor position and possibly making the treasurer an appointed position; that will be discussed Tuesday, April 28th by the Public Services Committee; and then Tuesday, May 5th at the next full Danville City Council meeting.
