The City and SAPD Move Forward in Contract Renewal Discussions

SAN ANGELO, TX –This morning, another Meet and Confer meeting took place between the City of San Angelo and the San Angelo Coalition of Police (SACOP) at City Hall in downtown San Angelo.

Lisa Marley, Director of Human Resources for the City, listed the main agenda items that needed to be discussed as well as agenda items that have Sept. 30 deadlines, which is the expiration date for the current contract between the City and the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD)

The main agenda items include an update from the SACOP regarding results of the physical fitness program for SAPD officers, the specific language of the contract and addressing concerns from either party regarding changes to the contract.

Marley added that there are about ten items the City would like to implement in the new contract, like the hiring process of officers and specifics for part time officers, to name few.

The meeting today set the following tentative dates for further discussions:  Aug. 17 and 18 and Aug. 23 and 24. There is still an additional week in August to sort out any unresolved issues from these meetings.  

Anything with a financial obligation must be addressed before the San Angelo City Council so it is vital that discussions are finalized before going into September.

“It takes two council meetings to pass a budget,” Marley added. “If we need to add anything to the first budget it needs to be done by the first City Council meeting in September.”

Both Marley and Sgt. Doug Thomas, representing SACOP, feel confident about the negotiations going forward and are prepared to work through August to finish negations.

“I think negotiations are going very well,” Marley stated. “Both sides are [eager] to reach an agreement.”

Sgt. Thomas also feels “very optimistic” that negotiations will finish and both sides will reach a fair agreement.