City Council Approves CSEA Contract

The Glen Cove City Council approved a new contract with the Civil Service Employee Association at a public meeting at Tuesday. The council motioned to approve 6-0. The previous contract expired in 2009. 

The 5-year agreement will run through 2014 and includes retroactive increases of one percent for 2010 and 1.5 percent for 2011, both of which will be paid out in lump sum by June 2012.

Additional provisions include a 2.5 percent increase each year until 2014. CSEA employees will also receive an upgraded dental plan and a new vision plan.

New union employees will contribute 10 percent into their health benefits for the first 10 years of employment, an item that will be negotiable at the end of the contract.

Resident Grace Slizer questioned whether the new contract would force a tax increase.

Suozzi said: "The money for the new contract has been in budgets since the old one expired. The residential tax increase was already set at .79 percent. The union has been very cooperative with us."

Suozzi also attributed cost savings to his counterparts on the Council and the City Attorney, who adopted a resolution to suspend their health benefits during the meeting.

"This absorbed almost all of the cost of the new contract," he said. "They all did so voluntarily; they weren't required to give up their benefits."

When asked how the city will benefit from the union’s new contract, Suozzi said, "We get a great workforce, and the contract opens the door to negotiating employees paying into their health benefits. The increases are below the cost of living. It's a great deal overall.”

Ferry Terminal Completion Date Extended

City Council members approved a time-extension on the new ferry terminal’s construction.

Mayor Ralph Suozzi said the contract needed to be extended to May 2012 in anticipation of winter weather. The project was originally slated to be completed this past June.

Hydrostatic pressure at the Ferry's bulkhead originally in construction. Harsh weather additionally postponed work in February. However, the completion date was not altered.

"The [engineering solution to hydrostatic pressure at the bulkhead] was supposed to have only delayed construction for two months, so we extended the contract to Dec. 23, but the actual resolution took over four months," said Suozzi. "The work to be done will take about six weeks, which includes asphalt and planting, and this needs to be commenced in warm weather, which is why the contract has been extended to May.”

Resident Phil Gavosto asked whether the city was pursuing liquidated damages against Chesterfield Associates, the construction company involved with the ferry terminal.

Suozzi responded: "We're looking into it."

Bridge Street to be Named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mayor Ralph Suozzi invited residents join the city in re-naming Bridge Street to “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way” on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held in front of the .