By MARK WAITE
PVT
A contract with the Nye County Law Enforcement Association retroactive for the last two years was rejected by a 3-2 vote of the Nye County Commission Thursday.
The three Pahrump commissioners who voted against the agreement: Gary Hollis, Fely Quitevis and Butch Borasky.
Nye County labor counsel Mark Ricciardi said the terms of the contract would be retroactive for the past two years after some problems coming to an agreement with the union.
Ricciardi reported the annual fiscal impact at $431,000. He said the contract would:
* Increase the county budget for base salaries by $229,000 for this fiscal year, from $5.74 million to $5.97 million;
* Hike health insurance costs by $104,000, from $564,480 to $669,030;
* Increase standby pay by $44,000, from $85,366 to $129,906;
* Increase shift differential pay by $26,000, from $61,021 to $87,174;
* Increase overtime on the shift differential pay by $5,941, from $13,862 to $19,803.
* Add another $20,000 for special assignments pay.
“I just want to clarify this $431,000 — we have to pay this,” Quitevis said.
Ricciardi told Borasky the expense was budgeted.
Even if this contract were approved, the labor attorney would then have to negotiate a contract with the sheriff’s deputies union for the term beginning July 1.
“This is abject stupidity,” said Travis Huggins, president of the Nye County Law Enforcement Association, after the vote. “This is their offer to me, which was rejected, which is two years overdue.”
The county had offered a 4 percent annual raise, he said.
The union will enter into arbitration with the county in an attempt to hammer out a contract, Huggins said. County commissioners will set a date to reconsider the contract during a special conference call.
The rejection led to angry words by one member of the sheriff’s office, Deputy Tom Klenczar, who threatened a boycott of Quitevis’ businesses.
Huggins said sheriff’s deputies pay their own health insurance separate from the county plan. While health insurance premiums have skyrocketed, members of the association haven’t received increased reimbursement, Huggins said
One member of the insurance pool, a deputy hired by the county, had major prior conditions including epileptic seizures and had to undergo brain surgery, he said.
The association represents deputy sheriffs, sergeants, district attorney investigators and juvenile probation officers who have been in their position at least one year.
Members who had to appear in court during their off-duty time would receive time and a half with a minimum of two hours pay.
The contract included longevity pay and retiree health benefits for those who began work prior to Dec. 1, 1998. The county would pay half the health insurance premiums for retirees who began work after that date.
There’s one important detail that was left out of this story: The association, at the urging of their leadership, chose to leave the protection of the county’s insurance plan and strike out on their own. If there are increases in coverage that their current salaries don’t cover, they have no one to blame but themselves. They chose to leave the county plan, the county plan didn’t leave them.
Travis Huggins needs to pay for all the money and all the pain he has inflicted on us Seniors in this County of Nye.
This is my opinion and is protected under the 1st Amendment.
DRO
The three Pahrump commissioners who voted against the agreement: Gary Hollis, Fely Quitevis and Butch Borasky. These 3 people are the most uneducated people I have ever met. To do this to the NSCO is pathetic. The County will lose in arbitration and have to pay twice as much to NCSO…way to try and save the county money Gary, Fely, and Butch.
DeMeo never graduated from anything except the Maffia College of Intimidation and U NAME IT? U are stupid.
Go to arbitration …dear….
We all know that times are tough, but we must also realize that in order to maintain qualified and skilled police officers, we must pay a decent wage and benefit package. Pahrump needs top flight police officer, fire fighters and teachers. Why would we want to settle for disgruntled county workers in such vital positions?
It shouldn’t take two years to iron out a contract. I believe the county commissioners owe the officers more than that.
I agree with all three above but can’t believe Deputy Tom Klenczar, who threatened a boycott of Quitevis’ businesses. That’s not very professional Deputy Klenczar. That would be like a fire fighter saying I wouldn’t protect you business.
Ditto..
It’s like…if your home is burning…who cares?
You didn’t vote for our Union Contract…so, F U???
DRO
I agree with all three above but can’t believe Deputy Tom Klenczar, who threatened a boycott of Quitevis’ businesses. That’s not very professional Deputy Klenczar. That would be like a fire fighter saying I wouldn’t protect your business.
I think that he ment he would’nt conduct business at his esrtablishment NOT that he would not protect his business.
Is that why we on the street get beat up by these thugs?
Is that why see 90 % of the homes burnt up only 3 miles away from the FF Depot?
Cut to the Chase…dearie…
Here’s the deal; 1) The Nye County Law Enforcement Association left the County Insurance Pool, their insurance premiums went up – so did mine. I can’t stick that cost to the taxpayers of Nye County; neither should they. Suck it up. 2) Historically, deputies leave this department as soon as a more lucrative offer is made to them elsewhere plus NCSO has historically hired from their own Academy; the argument that is being made that they need these bloated salaries to attract new hires just doesn’t fly here. 3) Why are we concerned with an officer that had a prior condition that needed brain surgery, said officer was aware of his pre existing condition – so should have been the department that hired him. 4) Deputy Tom Klencsar is childish when he publicly calls for a boycott of Quitevis’ business. What’s next Tom? Are you gonna pull her over and break out her tail light? Grow up man. 5) Why do Public Servants even have a Union?
Nye County Commissioners should immediately impose a County-wide unilateral (For some of the Pahrumpians trying to read this; that means ALL Nye County Government positions ) wage freeze and anyone that does not like it can leave. God knows there are more unemployed than jobs right now.
I think that most all taxpayers in Nye County expect the County Commissioners to hold the line on increasing any taxes at this unprecedented troubling time. Unfortunately,that is exactly what is going to happen if every County employee keeps getting these automatic pay raises.
The absurdity and inequity of Government’s bloated pay and spending policy/habits has to stop here and now.
Why do Public Servants even have a Union?
Because Nye County and Pahrump are crooked. Is that a good enough answer RESIDENT OBSERVER.
Is your hidden name?
WHAT? An officer of Nye?
DRO
“Resident Observer” is probably right about most of what he/she writes but as I understand it, when a labor contract is negotiated and ratified, the county has to adhere to it. It’s a legal, contractual document. I don’t believe that the county commissioners can impose any wage freeze without renegotiating the contract. Also, some salaries are set by law, from what I read in the NRSs.
mr observer, first of all if you dont remember Jay Howard, Or Ed Siri your not a true pahrumpian, your a transplant, i dont mean you read a book about them i mean you had a soda with them. so when you see people that arent blessed with a brain as active as resident observer dont judje them, they wear there name on there sleeve,if you dont like it here in pahrump the road travels both ways, but give it a chance, run for office see if you can make a difference,ihave a wonderful evening.
Salaries for public employees should be in line with the salaries of those they serve. The average income residents of Pahrump is much lower than the pay the public employees earn. It should not be the case that tax payers are paying their “employees” public servant more that the public earns. I am sure that if (and they should be) salaries for public servants in Pahrump were published for all tax payers to see, we would find that public servant have the highest salaries in the community,, We have just discovered that in Bell California the town manager was paid almost $800,000 a year. I am sure that there are many Nye County employees that earned in excess of $100,000 last year. With retirement and benifits I am sure that the total cost is much higher pre county and town employee. We as citizens should demand reasonable pay for public employees and it’s time the tax payers take a good look at high salaries paid to county and town employees..Time we get value for or tax money.
RICHARD-How about we pass small county sales tax like every other county in this nation so that we can have the right amount of police officers, firefighters, and town works. Wait that makes sense…so lets not do it.
Oh, I do agree..
How about a 50% reduction in the Police?
DRO
To the County Supervisors: You can save even more money by just disbanding the Sheriff’s Department and patrolling Pahrump yourselves. Of course we will all sue you blind… so maybe you should just give the Deputies the pathetic raise they are actually willing to settle for. Maybe someday you will actually give them a living wage like you gave their management.
How about a FLAT salary for all Nye Cops?
Say, like $100.00 per day for all cops…
Then the Maffia inspired …the bunch of thugs that we seem to attract here in this village of NYE …will leave for BELL CA!
DRO
To Phil Harper of Oregon: Go home. Your only interest here is in supporting your unionized brothers in trying to extort more money from the local citizens – nothing more.
We are a small rural community in the middle of the desert and on the verge of going broke, the deputies of this town presently make MUCH more then the average citizen can afford to pay. And no, we have only lost ONE Deputy in the line of duty in the past two years, but thanks for trying misrepresent such terrible facts to further your union’s goal – stick it to the taxpayers at whatever the cost, right?.
EVERYONE IS CRYING ABOUT PAHRUMP NOT HAVING MONEY….WELL WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS…WE NEEED TO INCORPORATE, BUT YOU PAHRUMPIANS ARE SO CHEAP.
I have lived in Pahrump for 7 years now and I agree, it is time to incorporate.
Yep and get rid of Tony DeMeo…
And, don’t hire his maffia for protection…
DRO
Incorporation!!!!! You mean paying double taxes, county and city! WOW guess there are tax payers in this town that can afford to pay more money to those in power. Which equates to high pay for those in power while those that work for them, get peanuts…..
Yeah lets incorporate….. idiots!
Yes, encorperation is good. I am tired of living next dor to a trailer.
Why are we allowing unions to run our public agencies?
And is that photo of a local deputy or a soldier in Iraq? Do we need macho guys of this type showing off automatic assault weapons? What happened to Peace Officers?
Why should WE pay for something in the past? The deputies have already provided a service at an agreed price. Would you agree to a price increase at Home Depot for lumber you bought last year?
Give us a break. When and IF we can no longer attract people as deputies, then we know we need to raise the salaries and goodies. Until then we should sit tight.
Just hire deputies with a REAL College degree….something that our Sheriff wishes to have?????…
My advice…get one stupid on-line degree….check out Dr. no-body at want-to-be Town Board? He has one…get it?
DRO
Ahhh, Mac has the right idea – a sensible view and assessment of this whole mess. Now if only the County Commissioners can figure this out?
* I wondered about the photo’s origin myself.
THE TOWN MANAGER NEEDS TO BE FIRED…ENOUGH SAID.
OK.
Give DeMeo a Million just to go back to riding his stupid bike around Hells Kitchen in “memorial” for cousin “OY DEMEO” nuff said…..
DRO
ROY DEMEO…word up
If we give them a raise does that mean we might get better service or are certain ranking officers just going to make more and do less. Im sure the gentleman from Orgon meant well but he doesn’t know the inept officers that we have.
The rejection led to angry words by one member of the sheriff’s office, Deputy Tom Klenczar, who threatened a boycott of Quitevis’ businesses.
Don’t Forget their “Boss” is from Jersey. These “Threats” are the Norm Here. Talk about the Pot Calling the Kettle Black. The Fire Fighters Union is the Same way. They do not care How the County will Pay for their Wages, they Just want their Wages.
Why doesn’t the Fire Fighter and Police Union set down with the Budget and help the County Figure out how to Pay for their Benefits and Wages?
Let the Unions Decided who has to be let go County Wide so they can get an Increase in their Wages.
I look up to Police Officers and Fire Fighters, they need to grow up and Represent the Professionals they are supose to be.
Hey Paul Kersey. If you read the news or even watched it, you would know that the firefighters of Pahrump took a 4 percent pay cut to help Pahrump and the county. The firefighters alway step up for the town…sometimes it’s sad how much abuse they get for al the hard work they do. Did you also know we only have 6 firefighters protecting the town a day…pahrump is a joke.
Get real…our homes go up in smoke only a 1/2 mile from the firestation….dump these guys and their UNION~
DRO
RIGHT ON!
You are one of the .15 of the intelligent folks here in this crappy county who sees what the oppression of us is like.
I am sick of the folks who will not get involved.
I just spoke to Ms. Lord a couple of days ago and she said she has run out of money to fight the “……”. I respect that.
Maybe the ……. can destroy this …..that is on Basin?
DRO
Rite on and RIDE on DeMeo and his UNION does not care about any of you little folks…
He is in office because of the MONEY people here in this god forsaken village called NYE…
Some of you Commissioners can reside on your ranches up North…
We, the little people can not.
Nancy Lord….the “new voice” of us little people just gave up.
Maybe, FOX NEWS will give us hope?
DRO
DR.O
Just for your feeble mind, the UNION does NOT belong to De Meo or any of his administrative staff….
Go back to kindergarten…and learn something..
Dr. OZ go bac to your TV sho.
Who are U ?
I am the Guru?
DRO