Carmel PBA Files Grievance Town over Sheriff Patrols
By Arthur Cusano
Clarification: this article has been updated to clarify information.
The Carmel Police Benevolent Association has filed an injunction to prevent other law enforcement agencies from patrolling parts of the town, according to a town board member.
The legal action was revealed during Wednesday’s Carmel Town Board meeting, when board members were asked by resident and business owner Mike Barile about why there was still no contract between the town and the police department and department of public works after five years of negotiations.
Councilman John Lupinacci told Barile the town had received a subpoena to appear in a state court over a grievance against the town.
“They are claiming the town of Carmel patrol is exclusive,” Lupinacci said. “The grievance says exclusivity, that they have the right to patrol, not the sheriff.”
The town has recently arranged an agreement to have the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department assist in patrols in the town, a move that drew objection from the Carmel PBA. New York State Police are also assisting more in town patrols.
Lupinacci said he was holding off on further negotiations until the issue was resolved because he was not sure what would happen if the town lost the grievance. The town might have to hire six to eight police officers if the sheriff’s office is not allowed to aid with patrols, he said. That would cost the town $300,000 initially and as much as $1 million within five years.
“The police department budget is already $9 million of the $24 million town budget,” Lupinacci said. “In five years we’re asking it to go up to $10 (million) or ($10 million) plus.”
Barile said he believed that the contract negotiations should be made more public, and said he didn’t understand what was holding up the process.
“I think the public should be aware of what the town is offering, and the public should be aware of what the police and highway department people are asking for,” Barile said.
Lupinacci said he wanted the previous contracts to be posted on the town website and said he was open to public negotiations, but stressed that he was speaking only for himself and not the entire board.
Board members stressed that they were not planning to eliminate the town police department, and said they were planning to hire two new police officers and approved the purchase of two new police patrol vehicles during the meeting.
Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari was not available for comment Wednesday evening.
Barile also said the highway department employees told him they did not know of any ongoing negotiations. Board members said that there had been a breakdown in communications and that there had not been any recent discussions.
Check back in Tuesday’s print edition for more on this story.
