Bell Acres approves new 3-year deal with full-time police officers

Bell Acres officials have recently inked a new three-year deal with their full-time police officers.

Council unanimously voted to approve the contract on Dec. 11.

The police department has five full-time officers, including Chief Kristoffer Korol, and several part-time officers. They serve and protect a town of about 5.5 square miles with approximately 1,350 people.

The previous three-year contract expired at the end of last year.

Brock Meanor, council vice president and public safety chairman, and Mayor Kenneth Alvania negotiated on behalf of the borough.

Sgt. Tim Poland and Officer Michael Vrbanic were on the police negotiation team.

“Negotiations went very well,” Meanor said via email. “Both sides were very happy with the deal. There was never any real disagreement between the parties, we just needed to figure out the details on a few minor issues, but nothing major.”

Contract terms include annual wage increases of 2.5% and a 5% healthcare premium contribution by the officers.

The contract also provides for a deferred retirement option plan full-timers eligible for retirement can draw from.

“I think it’s a great deal for the borough,” Meanor said. “We are a small municipality and we are fortunate to have a full-time police force that can respond to incidents very quickly.

“Nearly half of our budget is dedicated to public safety. We have a great group of officers and they are led by a very capable police chief. We are lucky to have them all here in Bell Acres and we can’t thank them enough for their service. We hope to continue to be a municipality future officers want to come and work for.”

Vrbanic said he is pleased the department and council were able to come to a mutual agreement.

“In terms of the contract negotiation, our department felt that the borough was great to work with and that the final contract was fair for both parties involved,” Vrbanic said via email. “We look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Kolor said he was not involved with contract negotiations and his salary is not impacted by it.

However, his healthcare contributions are lumped in with the other contracted officers.

Part-timers’ compensation is set in budget meetings and not via the contract.