City Council to Discuss Possible Litigation Over Police Salaries and Trash Contract

SAN ANGELO, TX -- San Angelo City Council members meet behind closed doors Tuesday morning to discuss possible litigation over the solid waste contract according to the agenda for their regular meeting.  

As we reported earlier, in Sept. 2017 negotiations between representatives of the city and the San Angelo Coalition Of Police broke down and SACOP representatives walked away from negotiations. The staff presentation showed that San Angelo Coalition Of Police representatives walked away from negotiations on September 11 after declaring an impasse in negotiations.  

SACOP wanted the step plan reinstated which staff said would cost the city $622,090 in the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget.  The City had offered a one percent raise and five additional officers.

SACOP spokesman Officer Matt Baldwin said, “Thank you for the raise we got back in April.  We are not greedy, we’re not selfish, we never asked for a raise.” Baldwin explained. “Our number one goal was to reinstate the step program.  We’re trying to retain officers.”

Shortly after the council voted to let the agreement lapse, council members voted unanimously to adopt the budget for fiscal 2017-2018 and voted to keep the tax rate the same.  

The closed session agenda item calls for the city council to discuss seeking a“the advice of its attorney about pending or contemplated litigation regarding: CLEAT and TMPA.”

CLEAT is the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas and TMPA is the Texas Municipal Police Association.

Also in the closed session Tuesday council members will discuss seeking advice from an attorney concerning the trash contract.  As we reported earlier, Republic Services, the city’s solid waste contractor, has requested to end curbside recycling or change it to a fee service because the company is losing money under the current terms of the contract.  

On the regular agenda Tuesday is an item awarding a $1.7 million contract to widen and improve West Concho Avenue to sole bidder Reece Albert, Inc.  

The San Angelo City Council meets in council chambers at the McNease Convention Center at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.