In 2003 Ed Gavin was part of Joe Ganim’s defense team when a jury convicted him of federal corruption charges. Recently Gavin and Ganim have been on opposite sides over a legal dispute regarding the legitimacy of a union contract left over from the Finch administration that awarded retroactive pay raises to more than 150 city employees. On Monday Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis, one of three judges that denied Ganim’s application for reinstatement of his law license in 2012, ruled in favor of the retro raises.
Facing a budget deficit, Ganim sought to reject the raises claiming the contract was faulty. Gavin, representing the city’s Supervisors Union, ran into court to preserve the contract. Bellis sided with Gavin against the city’s legal team. The judge has a history of ruling against the city. City lawyers argued that City Council President Tom McCarthy, who recently left city service as deputy director of Labor Relations, manipulated the contract because he benefited from the pay raise.
“It was unconscionable the claims that were alleged against members of the city’s labor relations office,” said the union;s lawyer, Edward Gavin. “We are glad the court found these claims were baseless. The (union) has always acted in good faith in our negotiations and today the court recognized that.”
Full CT Post story here.
Not knowing all the facts in this case, I’m sort of in favor of the union members’ raises since it seemed to be quite some time since those city workers had a raise, as well as all the past city give-back concessions they were forced into to avoid layoffs during the “Green-Jeans” administration. However I’m not in favor of the non-union political jobs workers getting outgoing Finch raises! ***
*** Almost forgot the bogus retirement city agreements that allow both chiefs of the fire and police departments to collect their city retirement pay before they’re actually retired. Now that is really a slap in the face of city taxpayers and we have the ex-mayor and his rubber-stamping city council to blame! *** GOD HELP US! ***
Actually, the working after retirement deal is good for the city taxpayers. These guys were going to get the retirement pay regardless of what they did and someone was going to get the police chief pay as well. It is irrelevant if both pays go to the same guy. In that situation the city saves on the cost of health insurance and retirement benefits. I also believe the returning retired person is paid a little bit less. All around it is cheaper for the city to re-hire a retiree because of the benefits savings.
I don’t buy that one.
The Ganim fluff and show got slapped down. It was all window dressing anyway. Just wait until the mil rate comes out. It will be blamed on this “$20 million” budget deficit. What percentage of money spent in Bridgeport (in other words every single penny) does this $20 million represent? NOT MUCH. But Ganim will ride it for as much as he can and we will see how many gullible Bridgeporters will fall for it, ESPECIALLY ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
Frank? Is everything not alright??
Frank,
From a number of your posts in the past month it seems you are having trouble with G2’s Finance officials letting us know the budget adopted last year had serious errors at the outset. Expected revenues were forecast that had not been received previously from the State as well as increases that had no real grounds for getting million dollar increases.
On the expense side of the budget, the Finch administration, despite headlines to the contrary, did not control overtime in the public safety area to the tune of millions each year. If you wish to compare actual 2014 results after the audit to the adopted 2016 you can see a real problem was created by Sherwood and Kelly-Lenz. When the Council refuses to object and just goes along with the Finance narrative as they have for years with ghost expenses, etc. that is what happens. Call me. We can review. Time will tell.
If retiring and collecting your pension while still working is so good for the city, then let every firefighter and policeman who has the time to retire collect their pension now while still working. If it’s good for the chiefs it has to be good for the Indians, right?