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By MICHAEL McNARNEY mmcnarney@leader.net
 Friday, January 24, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - The city owes at least $150,000 to its unionized police
officers according to the president of the police union - and the union has
filed a grievance to get the money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The cash - $2,600 per officer - was part of a deal McGroarty made with the
Police Benevolent Association in July 2002 to allow civilians to write parking
tickets. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The union agreed to relinquish the duty in return for $1,300 per officer to
be paid in October 2002, then $1,300 in January 2003 and then $1,500 every
January thereafter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But officer Robert Hughes, president of the association, said his members
haven't seen a dime. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I've talked to Mayor McGroarty several times. Every time I talk to him,
he says, `We'll get it in a few days,' '' Hughes said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hughes said he has filed two grievances over the matter, and is thinking
about putting a lien on some city property, which he did not identify. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty declined to comment on the issue, saying he doesn't think it's
proper to negotiate in the press and that the city has a good relationship
with the Police Department. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hughes said the negotiating was done in July, and now it's time to pay up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I guess it's just another debt he's racked up for the city that he can't
take care of,'' Hughes said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The city/union deal in July 2002 ended an 11-month drought during which few
tickets were written. The state's labor relations board ruled in August 2001
that civilians could not write parking tickets, and no officer was
subsequently assigned to the task. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hughes said only officers who were on the force at the time of the deal are
eligible to collect the money - about 60 people, he estimated. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even with civilians writing parking tickets again, it's not clear how much
the city is making. City Councilwoman Kathy Kane has said she is told tickets
pile up in boxes at City Hall, and scofflaws are never prosecuted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Michael McNarney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7305. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Financial Woes City Owes Unionized Cops $150,000 The Union, Which Filed Several Grievances, May Put A Lien On City Property