The Fraternal Order of Police contract came to the table last night and received a do-pass vote. Police Chief Rusty York strongly supported it at the table. Behind him were two officers representing the FOP. Marty Bender wisely abstained.

Liz Brown was the only real critic of the contract which gave a 1.5% pay raise in exchange for some concessions on the part of the FOP. At the end of her cross examination she reminded council that they set a precedent when they voted a 1.5% increase for the firefighters a month ahead of the general budget hearings. She has a point. Over and over again during budget hearings that point was made. “Well, you’ve already given the firefighters a 1.5% raise, how can you tell other employees they are less competent or valuable?” City officials and council members both sounded that note.

The simple answer would be to hold contract agreements with city unions, including the FOP and Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, the machinists, and others until after the general budget is passed. The general budget should set the tone for other negotiations, not the other way around. Cart before the horse, tail wags the dog.

The topic of the confused acquisition of the old W&D’s building, popularly known as Renaissance Square, also came up last night. Again, Mayor Henry got the horse before the cart. He should have had his alliance with the county cemented before cutting a deal with George Huber. Instead, the mayor left himself wide open to what has happened; the confusion, the waste of time, the anger from all sides, not to mention the hit to the mayor’s reputation. Even in establishing the resuscitation committee the mayor does not seem to understand team building. Kevin Leininger reports in the Tuesday night News Sentinel that a key player, county council president Roy Buskirk, was only informed of the mayor’s call for the task force a few minutes before the mayor was set to hold a news conference on that topic. It is just one blunder after another.

So, the question we have to ask is whether the Peter Principle is at work on the 9th floor, or whether the mayor is getting very bad advice. Let us hope it is bad advice, otherwise we many head scratching surprises ahead. One local commentator may have summed it up: Tom Henry is very good at cutting ribbons.

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