Milton police department awaits chief appointment, union contract
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Tom Gilland
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Brad Smith
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Todd J. Schmidt
MILTON — Thursday, Feb. 21, could be an important day for the Milton Police Department.
Officers might learn that day the identity of their new (or old) chief and get word about their future working conditions.
The Milton Police Commission has scheduled a Feb. 21 meeting, as have the department’s union, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, and the city’s negotiating team.
Currently, the department is down two full-time officers because of a hiring freeze. It’s also down a chief since the retirement of Chief Tom Gilland took effect Jan. 7.
The chief position easily could be filled before the officer positions. The police commission is considering rehiring Gilland as an “annuitant employee,” one who is receiving retirement benefits but still is employed.
Gilland became eligible to enter into a contract with the city Thursday, 31 days after his retirement.
But the commission chose to wait until Feb. 21 to discuss Gilland’s possible reappointment because it wanted more time to gather information, Chairman Stephen Tupper said.
Tupper declined to say what information the commission is gathering or if the commission is examining candidates other than Gilland.
Meanwhile, the two full-time officer positions probably won’t be filled until halfway through the year at the earliest. City Administrator Todd Schmidt only budgeted the positions for six months in 2008.
The city approved the addition of a ninth full-time officer for its 2007 budget, but the position never was filled because a hiring freeze went in place soon after. That fall, another officer resigned, leaving the department down two positions.
The Milton City Council approved the hiring freeze after learning of projected rising expenses of employee retirement benefits over the next 20 years. The city hoped to negotiate retiree insurance out of union contracts for new hires when the contracts expired at the end of 2007, officials said.
But it might find a fight from the police union, said officer Brad Smith, the department’s union representative. In December, Smith told The Janesville Gazette the retirement benefit could be “the single most important benefit” on the table in the upcoming negotiations.
The police union and city negotiators—Schmidt and city attorney Mike Haas—have met once so far, Smith and Schmidt said. At the meeting, the police union presented its proposal, which basically asks to maintain the status quo, Smith said.
The union expects the city to make its proposal at the Feb. 21 meeting, Smith said.
“I’m sure the city’s going to request some pretty big-ticket items,” he said.
But the union won’t be pressured to rush into a contract just because of the hiring freeze, Smith said. The department has been making up for the lack of full-time officers with overtime and with part-time officers.
“We obviously want to get through the contract negotiations as expeditiously as we can, but we’re not going to compromise the contract by jumping to a settlement on the retirement insurance,” Smith said.
Smith believes the city would prefer to have a chief in place to assist in the negotiations because some items on the table could involve department operations, he said.
Schmidt confirmed the city would prefer to work with a chief but said the lack of a chief won’t impede the negotiations. If necessary, the city might turn to an expert in police department operations, he said.
Of course, the question could become moot after next week’s meetings.
“We’ll know more on the 21st,” Smith said.
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:57 p.m.
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The real sad issue here is that there are so few commenting either way about this issue. Is it because Milton residents just dont care? The PD is short two officers because of City Hall, it has no contract because of City Hall, and there is no chief because of City Hall. Anyone see a pattern?
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.
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Well, I'm not going to take the bait and respond to the personal stuff. To me, the issues ARE paramount. One prior quote of mine that you didn't bring up was an offer that I will repeat here: Show me--with facts/statutes/cases--where I am wrong, and I will apologize accordingly. Legitimate questions have been raised about this whole process, to which the 'authorities' simply respond by saying, 'It's legal'. But NO ONE, not you, the city attorney, the city administrator--no one has ponied up with any legal support for the various claims. If there was such support, I would think that for no other reason than to put an end to the debate, they should 'show the cards'. I don't know of any LEGITIMATE reason NOT to, unless it simply isn't there. And, mon frere, if simply raising issues about how those in authority conduct business--if doing that is somehow disrespectful to citizens, then they will just have to learn how to deal with disappointment. Who said the following, Beach? "In a democracy, it is not only a citizen's right, but their responsibility to question its leadership." Or, should that be saved for the next civics class? Peace.
Feb 12, 2008 at 5:29 p.m.
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"There sure are a lot of self-righteous bloggers here..."--Likeike's comments from Motorists question town of Beloit towing policy story.
"And btw, I honestly intend no disrespect to any of the people discussed here; my comments are intended to address the issues, not the person."--Likesike's comments on the story: Responding officer nearly crashes into creek
"So, absent any public clamor, I suspect Milton's Literate leaders will pat their IL-literate citizens on the head, and proceed to do what they want to."--Likeike's comments on the story Rehiring retired employees becoming more common
And Likeike's comment on Rehiring retired employees becoming more common; "I DO agree with you that we need better civics classes.... Keep smiling!" I think Mr. Likeike should be more interested in an English and/or Creative Writing class. Civics is useless if you do not understand the basics of life. Anyone reading any of your many comments should have a better context as to the origin of your anger. It is obvious your outward anger is a demonstrative display of your deep-seated distrust for authority of any kind. Many of the readers could explain to you how police commissions, contract talks, city administrative efforts, and union negotiations work. None of us have done so for a reason. You say you do not intend to disrespect the citizens, but you do repeatedly. You say it is about the issues, but your misinformation makes that statement null and void from the beginning. Step away from the podium. If you disagree with me, like you do everyone else, prove us wrong by sharing some of your time tutoring disadvantaged youth at your local library. The last thing we need are more of those "self-righteous, IL-literate citizens incapable of understanding Civics being patted on the head by Milton's Literate leaders". Oh, "btw", my response is to address the person, not the issue. The issues are taking care of themselves.
Feb 11, 2008 at 9:46 p.m.
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It seems so obvious: Rehire the old Chief, and return to 'yesterday' (but, don't forget, saving the taxpayers two tenths of one percent!), or hire someone who can lead the Dept. into the new millenium--at the risk, of course, of blowing the entire city budget. I hope the Police Commission stays true to their mandate, which is to hire the best person for the job, regardless of whatever political issues there are with the City Administrator and the Council. That's why there is such a thing as 'police commissions' in the first place: To remove (as much as possible) politics from the process. It seems that no one has the stomach to challenge the illegal setup that currently exists. (Has the City Attorney ever provided his legal theory to support this?) So be it. At least they could do something so that the same, tired players don't end up in the same positions that existed prior to this whole charade. Doing that might restore some concept of confidence that the entire process is not corrupt.
Feb 11, 2008 at 2 p.m.
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I'd like to hear from the guys and gals with the police department. Altho they probably wouldn't want to identify themselves. My question would be have any of the commission members apologized directly to you for their incompetence? Also have you heard from the mayor apologizing for the police and fire commission? You fine folks deserve better.
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