North Huntingdon police get 4-year contract extension

North Huntingdon police officers agreed to a wage freeze next year followed by pay raises of 2% in 2022, 2.5% in 2023 and 3% in 2024 under a four-year contract extension reached with the township.

Township commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved the contract that township Manager Jeff Silka called a “fair agreement” that covers 27 officers. The officers agreed to a wage freeze next year, Silka said, because they realized the township has lost revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The current contract expires at the end of the year, Silka said.

Det. Mark Hamilton, who handled negotiations for the police, could not be reached for comment.

While Chief Robert Rizzo has his own contract with the township, Rizzo still is covered by parts of the agreement because he had been an officer who was part of that association. Rizzo, a 30-year veteran, was promoted from sergeant to chief in September 2018.

Patrol officers will work 12-hour shifts and 84 hours over two weeks, while detectives and lieutenants can be assigned a modified work schedule to accommodate working 84 hours every two weeks, according to the agreement.

New officers hired as junior patrol officers will receive 70% of a senior officer’s pay for their first year, increasing annually to 100% in their fifth year of service.

The contract was reached without the police and township resorting to an arbitrator to decide on the wages and contract language, Silka said. Bargaining between the police and the township began in July.