Arbitration concluded this week on the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department’s collective bargaining agreement, ending a yearlong negotiation on the contract which expired Dec. 31, 2022.

“We are glad that the process is completed, and now we can move forward,” said police administrator Tom Smith.

The final arbitration stipulated a 5% wage increase in 2023, a 5% increase in 2024 and a 4% increase in 2025.

Retroactively beginning Jan. 1, full-time patrol officers’ base rates will increase from $24.83 to $31.10 per hour. Part-time officers’ pay will increase from $19.96 to $25.01 per hour.

“This is what we offered,” Smith said. “We think this was fair from the very beginning due to inflationary costs.”

Initial negotiations led to arbitration after the officers’ bargaining unit requested a 7% wage increase, according to Smith, with the commission proposing a 5% increase.

“They rejected that and said that they were just going to go ahead and proceed with arbitration,” Smith said.

The officers have been operating under the terms of their 2022 contract, with arbitration being held April 21.

The officers’ union sought a 7% increase in 2023, a 6.5% increase in 2024 and a 6% increase in 2025, according to Smith.

The officers’ bargaining unit also initially requested 100% employer-paid coverage for medical, dental and vision insurance as well as 100% employer-paid dependency coverage, according to Smith.

In the union’s initial proposal, it additionally requested the employer pay 100% of all co-pays and prescriptions, Smith said, and that retiring officers retain benefits until age 65.

The arbitration dictated that officers electing for coverage beyond individual coverage would contribute 8% of the individual cost plus 20% of the additional cost for non-individual coverage. This amounts to 20% of the difference in cost between individual coverage and non-individual coverage.

“We think it’s fair as far as family health care coverage because, basically, Seven Fields employees pay 20%,” said Smith, borough manager.

The result — or “award” — of the arbitration additionally extends new officers’ probationary periods from six months to a year and limits 26-week short-term disability coverage to 66.66% of base pay.

The collective bargaining agreement was amended and signed by arbitrators representing both the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Commission and the Evans City Wage and Police Unit on Monday, June 19.

Joe McCombs, police chief for the department, said he had yet to review the final agreement.

“It is noted that this award is not unanimous on every issue,” the arbitration states. “However, there are at least two supporting votes for every provision in this award.”

The agreement will remain in effect through 2025, when the regional department’s charter expires.

“This type of collective bargaining agreement would allow the regional department to still be financially sustainable,” Smith said.

According to a statement by Seven Fields borough, one of the regional department’s officers has recently accepted new employment.

“The officer has since departed the regional police department and the Borough of Seven Fields wishes this officer well in his new role,” the statement read.

The officer’s absence brings the department down to two full-time officers including McCombs, who declined to comment.

“Though the regional police department’s own staffing has been reduced to inadequate levels due to this and other resignations,“ the release continued, ”the Borough of Seven Fields remains wholly covered by capable law enforcement partners from the Pennsylvania State Police and nearby police departments.”

In March, two full-time and one part-time officer also resigned from the department, citing job security concerns and the ongoing contract negotiation.

While the regional department remains the municipality’s contractual law enforcement agency, borough officials are developing a new policing model, according to the release.

“Borough representatives have identified two area police departments which have committed to partner with Seven Fields to offer adequate police services to the borough,” the statement read. “Representatives are now in final discussions with these departments. The Borough of Seven Fields intends to formalize a partnership with one of the agencies by mid-summer.”

The release promised the borough would keep residents informed of “significant” developments in the process via council meetings and public channels.

Evans City Mayor Dean Zinkhann did not return a request for comment late Tuesday.

“The safety of Seven Fields is our utmost priority and will remain so as we navigate any transformation of police services,” the release stated. “We welcome questions from residents and stakeholders as this process moves forward.”