Providence Police Face Massive Layoffs—City Council Reacts

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Editor

 

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A plan to send layoff notices to as many as 80 Providence police officers is an undesirable but potentially necessary step to help the city cope with its severe financial crisis, city councilmen told GoLocalProv yesterday.

The layoffs would cut the size of the police force by as much as 17 percent and help save $6 million in the department budget. The city is issuing the notices amid apparently stalled negotiations over a new contract for the police union. The union and the city have until July 11 to reach an agreement on concessions—otherwise, the layoffs could become a reality.

Joe Rodio, chief legal counsel to the union, confirmed that the city had notified officials that it planned to send out the layoff notices. City officials have yet to confirm any details of the plan. At the Finance Committee meeting yesterday Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare would only say that negotiations were ongoing and that one way or another, the city would find a way to reduce the Police Department budget by 10 percent. All options are on the table, including the layoffs, Pare said.

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‘Things nobody wants to see’

Terry Hassett, the president pro tempore of the City Council, confirmed that layoffs had been discussed during negotiations with the union.

“It was discussed in collective bargaining negotiations in terms of the realistically dire nature of the city’s financial position, which means every option may be exercised,” Hassett said. “I don’t enjoy it certainly. I don’t like the idea because I think our city is safer because of the true professional development the department has received from the commissioner and the chief.”

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Seth Yurdin, the council Majority Leader, said the council has set a June 1 deadline for all the parties to come together to help the city save money—that includes union concessions and a ream of legislation from the General Assembly.

Otherwise, the city council will push for deeper cuts. “We’re going to have to fashion a budget that is going to be far worse than the proposed budget,” Yurdin said. “Then you’re looking at additional cuts, lost services—things nobody wants to see.”

As for negotiations with the police, Yurdin added: “Nobody wants to see cuts in services but if the police aren’t able to come to a negotiated agreement on certain savings, the city’s going to have no choice.”

‘End of the rope’

Both Yurdin and Hassett emphasized the importance of legislation that would allow the city to tax nonprofit universities and hospitals at 25 percent of their value—netting $25 million in revenue for the city. “It’s not to beat up on any of the institutions. It’s more or less when you’re at a baseball game—at a Little League game—you used to pass the hat to pay the ump. Everyone has to contribute to this,” Hassett said.

Councilman Wilbur Jennings also was cool to the idea of police layoffs. “I don’t really like to see layoffs,” he said. “That’s the end of the rope.”

Jennings also praised the fire and police unions for “stepping up to the plate” and helping the city. He is confident layoffs can be avoided.

So far, the Mayor’s office has yet to confirm details of the layoff plan. Spokesman David Ortiz would only say that Mayor Angel Taveras will make an announcement about the status of savings in the Police Department budget today.

It’s also unclear what the union’s response will be. Rodio said union officials may seek a temporary restraining order in the interest of public safety.

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