City tries to avert cop strike

Lisa Snedeker

Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999 | 10:43 a.m.

The city of North Las Vegas has offered an olive branch to the police and detention officers over their expired contract.

And while it ends a three-month impasse and could avert a possible strike, no one is saying what is on the branch.

John Harper, attorney for the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, confirmed Wednesday the city has given the union a proposal concerning the contract, which expired June 30.

"We want to make sure that it (the proposal) doesn't affect the EMRB complaint," he said. "Once we are assured it doesn't affect the litigation, we plan to ask them (the city) to elaborate, because they gave us a pretty basic offer."

The state Local Government Employee-Management Relations Board earlier this month denied the city's motions to dismiss or clarify the complaint filed by the association against the city for not approving the police and detention officers' contract in August.

The complaint, filed by the association Dec. 1, alleges that the city acted in bad faith in negotiations with the union over the officers' contract.

North Las Vegas' counsel James Winkler could not be reached for comment on the city's proposal. Neither could City Manager Pat Importuna nor City Attorney Richard Maurer.

Winkler, however, said earlier this week the city still held out hope the parties would meet at the bargaining table.

"There is a lot more hope than there was a month ago," he said.

Shari Thomas, EMRB commissioner, said both parties had 20 days from Feb. 12 to file prehearing statements. She predicted that while the earliest the case could be heard is in March, logistics dictate it probably would not be heard until May or June.

Winkler said earlier he will file a response from the city by next week.

"It is simply a matter of doing that, then the proceedings can begin," he said. "Hopefully it won't get to that."

Harper said once the city files its response, he can begin asking for depositions, or testimony, from city officials as well as former City Manager Linda Hinson and former Human Resources Director Tom Stephens, even the City Council, if he is allowed.

"This is a pretty intense case," he said.

The complaint notes the association had negotiated a contract with the city that gave the officers a 4 percent raise, and that both parties agreed to the contract on June 18, according association President Dave Galyen.

The City Council voted 4-1 to deny the contract Aug. 5, because the city had budgeted a 3.5 percent increase for the officers' contract, Galyen said.

Mayor Michael Montandon, however, has said repeatedly the city did not budget a 3.5 percent raise for the officers, but would not provide details of the contract because it is still being negotiated.

The POA made its last, best offer to the city Oct. 22 and had not heard from the city until now, according to Galyen.

"Before the POA will renegotiate a contract, the city has to agree that us talking does not negate our EMRB complaint," he said.

Galyen added morale in the department is at an all-time low, which he attributes directly to the officers lack of a contract. There also has been talk of possible picketing.

"But we have a commitment to serve the community, and we're going to live up to our commitment," he said.