ATLAS - Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a new contract for Police Chief Brian Hollenbush during a reorganization meeting Monday afternoon, approving a 75-cent raise each year for the next three years.
Hollenbush, who has worked with the department since 2001 and has been chief since 2009, will make $51,480 in 2014, $53,040 in 2015 and $54,600 in 2016 with the raise.
The township does not require him to contribute to his pension fund, and he receives a $2,000 stipend for declining township-sponsored health insurance.
At their December meeting, Supervisors Reynold Scicchitano, Joseph Zanella and Charles Gasperetti also approved a three-year contract guaranteeing the five full-time officers a 75-cent raise each year.
The additional cost to the township for these officers and the chief over the next three years is $29,080, Hollenbush said.
The 2014 budget, approved last month with no tax increases, is $1.26 million and includes funds for police salaries ($267,290), health care benefits ($38,736.80) and the minimal municipal obligation (MMO), or pension, at an estimated $66,128.
The township currently does not require the officers to contribute toward their benefits.
Police overtime for 2014 is budgeted at $25,000.
In December 2012, supervisors approved a four-year contract for Hollenbush that was to start in 2014, but the wrong starting year - 2013 - was written in the paperwork. Supervisors voided the old contract and approved the new one Monday.
The contracts for all officers are "fair," said Hollenbush.
In other business, the supervisors approved:
- Gasperetti as chairman, Scicchitano as vice chairman and Zanella as secretary/treasurer.
- Hollenbush as fire marshal and chief administrative officer of the police pension fund.
- Don Geary as code enforcement officer, attorney Vince Rovito as solicitor and Frank Amarose as emergency management coordinator.
- Susquehanna Bank as chief financial institute.
- Monthly meetings will be held at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the township building, 300 Laurel St.