Old Brookville police union labor deal OKd

An agreement on a five-year labor contract has been reached by the Old Brookville police union and a board of police commissioners from the six North Shore villages served by the police force, officials said.

It is the first multiyear agreement since Muttontown last March broke with Old Brookville police, cutting department funding by about 25 percent.

The contract covers the salaries and benefits of about 24 police benevolent association officers and would go into effect June 1, officials said.

It is contingent upon approval of an accompanying intermunicipal police protection contract, also for five years beginning June 1, David Cohen, lawyer for the board of police commissioners, said Tuesday.

Officials said they would not disclose details of the labor agreement until the protection contract is signed by Old Brookville, Brookville, Upper Brookville, Mill Neck, Cove Neck and Matinecock villages.

Cohen said he expects the villages to approve the protection contract within a week.

"This is simply a new version of what had been the seven-village contract; this is now the six-village protection contract," Cohen said.

Mill Neck last week approved the protection contract, Brookville approved it Tuesday night and it is on Old Brookville's agenda for Monday. It is not on Matinecock's agenda for Thursday. The other two villages could not immediately be reached.

The six villages made due this current fiscal year with an interim contract in the wake of Muttontown's departure and the resulting loss of revenue and layoff of officers.

Muttontown formed its own police force, sworn in last June.

It was also last summer when Old Brookville union representatives and police commissioners began meeting to discuss a longer-term contract.

"Both sides wanted to get it done as soon as possible," Cohen said.

PBA president Chris Sweeney said by cellphone Monday that he was traveling and could not immediately comment. Old Brookville Mayor Bernard Ryba referred questions to Cohen.

In a February newsletter to Old Brookville residents, village officials said the union agreement "not only permits us to continue to provide superior police protection service to our communities, but does so with cost savings measures."