Monroe County board OKs new pact with Londo

2/15/2007

MONROE - The Monroe County commissioners last night approved a new contract for Charles Londo, the county administrator and chief financial officer.

For 10 years, Mr. Londo has had an evergreen clause in his contract, which meant it automatically renewed itself every three years unless the board decided to renegotiate its terms.

The new contract expires in two years and no longer will roll over automatically.

Mr. Londo will be paid $114,233 a year, the same he was paid under the old contract.

Less than a day after the new board was sworn into office last month, commissioners called for a special meeting to discuss Mr. Londo's contract.

Mr. Londo is responsible for the bargaining and administration of all labor agreements in the county.

The contracts of county deputies, command officers, and dispatchers with the 911 system all expired Dec. 31.

Plus, the corrections officers and corrections supervisors' contracts that both expired Dec. 31, 2004, as well as the 911 communications supervisors' contract that expired Dec. 31, 2005, are still unresolved.

Sheriff Tilman Crutchfield and Mr. Londo have locked horns over budget reductions in the past.

The Monroe County Deputy Sheriff's Association endorsed many of the commissioners in their November election runs.

The county commissioners last night also discussed a request by Commissioner Henry Lievens to open up county legal services for competitive bidding.

In October, the board labored over appropriating an additional $65,000 to its labor firm, Dykema Gossett of Detroit, which represents the county in labor negotiations.

At that time, Mr. Lievens asked why the county was outsourcing taxpayers' money to a Detroit law firm instead of hiring local and less expensive representation.

"This is something I have been talking about for a few years now," Michael Grodi, president of the Monroe County Corrections Officers Association, said during public comment time.

"We have been in collective bargaining for two years, and I shudder to think of the amount of money that has been spent in this county just on bargaining alone.

"I think we are heading in the right direction with the new board we have got here. I am looking to this board to step up and help us finish this contract. I think their hearts are in the right place."

The board voted to refer the matter of outsourcing legal services to the county's judiciary committee for further review.

The board then went into closed session to discuss collective bargaining before adjourning the meeting.