Police Unions and traffic control
For What It's Worth
By Chris Fountain
The New York Times reports that the Governor of Massachusetts is trying, again, to get rid of the requirement that policemen direct traffic around construction sites. Fat chance - the state's been trying to achieve this for decades and union power always prevails. The Times says no other state wastes resources like this but, wouldn't you know, Greenwich uses a modified system, requiring off-duty policemen, on overtime pay, to steer cars around all non-public work projects.
A town employee can move traffic around a town tree cutting operation but if that same bit of tree trimming is being performed by CL&P or a private tree company, cop(s) must be on hand. Don't hire one at your peril, because these guys will shut you down in a heart beat and even arrest you, as they did at the Post Office project on Valley Road.
Cops make out like bandits with this deal and Greenwich obviously figures that what we don't see won't hurt us, so our "negotiators" continue the practice. We spent, according to BET minutes, $32,000 a month in police overtime directing traffic during the Mianus sewer construction project, a work effort that stretched out years. That's just one small example, of course. And I assume, but do not know, that a cop's overtime earned directing traffic is treated like all his other overtime when calculating his pension.
Because that pension is based on the cop's last year's total compensation it's the norm that the retiring civil servant racks up as much extra pay as he can, all to our financial woe. As a town, we seem to accept this ridiculous situation as the price of labor peace but it sure looks like union extortion to me.
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However, he just might not need your help according to this recent William Raveis press release.....
Jean Ruggiero in the central Greenwich office was the No. 1 sales associate at William Raveis Real Estate in 2007. No. 3 at the company was Maria Ruggeberg, also in Greenwich. Charles and Rita Magyar in Greenwich were the No. 3 team companywide.
Becky Hanley, the Greenwich and Old Greenwich offices senior vice president and leader, was honored for her office ranking among the top three of 59 in the company. The Greenwich and Old Greenwich offices had sales of more than $500 million last year. Total sales volume for the company was $5 billion.
Jean Ruggiero in the central Greenwich office was the No. 1 sales associate at William Raveis Real Estate in 2007. No. 3 at the company was Maria Ruggeberg, also in Greenwich. Charles and Rita Magyar in Greenwich were the No. 3 team companywide.
Becky Hanley, the Greenwich and Old Greenwich offices senior vice president and leader, was honored for her office ranking among the top three of 59 in the company. The Greenwich and Old Greenwich offices had sales of more than $500 million last year. Total sales volume for the company was $5 billion.
Those from Greenwich and Old Greenwich who were named to the Chairman's Elite Club included Kathryn A. Adams, Marianne Broekmeijer, Gary Disher, Herb Ehrlich, Christopher "The Real Estate Market Is So Bad That I Once Again Am In The Chairman's Elite Club" Fountain, Lisa Gabriele, Randy Keleher, Natalie Quigley, Bari Taylor and Dee Weber.Those named to the Chairman's Club were Calvin Darula, Kate Gamble (My Favorite William Raveis Realtor, Sorry Chris. BTW, Katie I Hope You Fill Better Soon) , Victoria Harris, Blanche O'Connell and Rosina Primo.
President's Club members included Mary Babbidge, Kara Cugno, Ward Davol, Kimberly Frattaroli, Nahed Hallaba, MaryDana McCann, Farideh Milani, Kathryn Paulson and Wendy Warren.
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