Fox Chapel police, borough contract talks moving forward

Fox Chapel council and law enforcement officials said they are closer to finalizing a new contract.

The current four-year police contract is set to expire at the end of this year.

Both parties have met four times since forming their respective negotiating teams in March.

The next negotiation session was scheduled for Aug. 27 (this issue went to press on Aug. 21).

“The meetings are going well,” Sgt. Jeffrey Clark said on Aug. 18. “We always seem to have a good relationship and good environment with our meetings. So far, it’s been a normal contract process. I don’t think there’s a long way to go. I think we’re close. … I’m happy where we’re at right now.”

Some of the sticking points are rate of pay, health care contributions and a few pension-related items.

The police department has 13 full-time officers, including Chief Michael Stevens, who serves in an administrative role and is not largely impacted by the contract.

“We still have some work to get done,” Clark said. “(I’m) hoping by next meeting we will feel more solid about coming to a full agreement.”

Clark has been with the department for more than 26 years.

He said the camaraderie within the force is outstanding and Fox Chapel is a very good place to work, with council and Mayor Alex Scott being very supportive.

Clark declined to get into further contract talks. Other members of the police negotiating team are officers Donald Stoner Jr. and Richard Klein.

Councilman Fred Leech and Councilwoman Betsy Monroe were involved with previous contract talks along with former councilman Thomas Karet, who withdrew from the 2023 election due to issues with his nomination petition.

Leech and Monroe are on this year’s negotiating team, along with Councilman Brad Harrison.

Council adjourned its Aug. 18 meeting to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters and the police contract.

Leech and Monroe offered a few comments about the contract talks before heading into the closed-door meeting.

“We’re moving along,” Monroe said. “We have always had a really unusually good relationship with our police. I think the unusual part is how collaborative these negotiations have always been. Both the police and the borough, both of those teams understand that that is a real benefit to both parties. We’re working hard to make sure that we maintain that relationship and come to an agreement soon.”

Council members declined to discuss terms.

“Everything is open until it is all closed,” Monroe said. “We’re on a schedule and we’re on schedule. I don’t have a number of weeks (until we get a deal).”

Leech echoed Monroe’s comments and said it takes time to etch out a fair deal for each side.

“It’s hard to predict an end date. “We’ve been working collaboratively and with respect to each other.”

The borough is able to focus on police contract talks following a one-year extension to its public works contract, solidifying terms with its nine full-time laborers through the end of 2026.

The original deal was from Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2025.

The vote to extend the contract was 6-0 on Jan. 20. Council vice president Harrison Lauer was absent.