City Council wants to punish city employees

**** PLEASE PASS ALONG TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.******..we need to unite

THANK YOU NBC----keep digging....there is more to discover about this council...


CAPE CORAL: Cape Coral City Council members are still calling on city agencies to tighten belts. They're considering cutting employee perks and benefits to maintain a balanced budget. But council members aren't willing to give up their own benefits to shore up a budget in peril.

As Cape Councilman Bill Deile looks through the pages of employee salaries, he sees plenty of places to cut.


He admits trimming down the budget will be tough. But a 2009 contract drawn by community leaders bears his signature guarantee promising to deflate the Cape's budget.

Cape Coral officials have forced some employees to give up holiday pay. Others have to take up to four unpaid days off. They are also cutting positions within the police and fire departments.

Cape Coral Councilman Erick Kuehn wants to cut employee benefits to patch the city's financial problems. But some councilmen are not willing take benefit cuts of their own.

Elected officials can opt out of the city's healthcare plan. In exchange, they get a monthly stipend of $619 and that money is placed into an annuity.

Five of the council members and the mayor take the annuity payment.

If Kuehn buys into the program, taxpayers will be paying nearly $45,000 a year to pay for theplan.

So when every budget dollar counts, is this a good use of your tax dollars?

"No more benefits to them when other agencies are cutting back," answered Cape Coral resident Linda Kress.

Councilman Deile says he isn't willing to separate from his annuity payments.

"It's part of the package," he said.

Councilmen Peter Brandt said, "Asking them to give it up would be like asking the janitor that sweeps out the closet to give up half of his pay."

But he also said he is willing to look into it.

Kuehn says he hasn't decided if he will take the annuity. But when asked if he would part with the payment he replied, "It depends on if you are on Fantasy Island."

"Don't vote for cut backs from other entity when you are not willing to do it for yourself," Kress said.

Deile says a councilman's meager $16,000 salary can't compare to perks other employees receive.

NBC2: Is this about the money, or being a public servant?
Deile: It's about both. We've always said we want to cut the top salaries.

"They knew very well when they took that position that they were going to have a low income," said Kress.

Councilman Derrick Donnell says he also is not willing to give up the annuity.

Cape Coral Mayor John Sullivan and Cape Councilman Marty McClain did not return our calls on the issue.

Now, city employees can not opt out of the health coverage for the annuity. But all council members we spoke too say they are willing to explore new rules so all city employees can opt for annuity benefits too.

By Travell Eiland


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OK, $619 a mo. x 12 mo. = $7,428. With a salary of $16,000 their total compensation (salary+opting for the annuity in lou of health care benefits) is only $23,428/yr. How much does the city's health plan that they're giving up cost per month? What's the real difference between them taking the health plan offered or opting for the annuity?

Does anyone at CCPD make less then $23.5K in combined salary and benefits? Now how many are making over $90K in salary alone? My bet is more then those who are making less then $23.5K combined. Sorry but i can't say i'm surprised a city employee whose making 16K+benefits would look elsewhere for budget cuts first! It's hardly shocking.

BTW, I hate Cape politics but maybe we should be grateful these Cape politicians haven't taken the opportunity to pay themselves $45,000/yr+benefits like most would. As of 2009 the Fort Myers city council pays themselves $32,629.76/yr. A city council position paying only 16K/yr+benefits almost seems absurd in 2010. Maybe it speaks to the quality of the council members we have running the place? Imagine the quality of the officers we would have if FTO base pay was oh say $22K/yr+benefits. Who would want the job?

Just for reference...




Naples City Council in December 2007 voted to give themselves a raise, after Councilman Bill Willkomm asked for a review of council’s salaries. A blue ribbon committee was formed to discuss council’s salary, and recommended council give themselves a 30 percent raise.

That raise bumped council members salaries up to $23,500 a year from $16,500 a year. The mayor’s salary jumped to $30,000 from $23,500 a year. The new salaries went into effect January 2008.

"City Council wants to punish city employees", says who? :snicker:

Does anyone else see the irony here? CCPD is one of the best paid agencies in SWFL while the Cape Coral city council is one of the lower paid councils in SWFL. Yet you complain they aren't willing to sacrifice more? If council members were clamoring for pay equity so that they too are some of the best paid public servants in SWFL, like yourself, would they have your support? :?

Things are getting worse wtihin the city. Hpefully there are members of CCPD who are young and read this forum. THIS AFFECTS YOU!!!!. Get a shift together, make a pact and make sure that SOMEONE from each shift is showing up at FOP meetings, council meetings, townhall meetings. Grab someone you trust and make them a representative.

You have to become educated in the local politics, pension meetings and such. Fight for what is yours in this contract and future contacts.

This is nothing new, the local CCPD FOP has more than 300 members, every month there is at least one new member voted in. I have yet to meet a new member once they are in (going back to 2008). Hey listen, once Kurt Grau and the current board is gone who is going to be there?

I am not saying to come in waving swords but at least acquiant yourself with what is involved, you are paying dues for "you're best interest" make something of it. The Council is political and is not necessarily on your side. If they start getting hit with benefit reductions and opt to fight where do you think they will start trimming? They make minimum salary, it won'tbe coming from them. The brotherhood/sisterhood of this line of work does not always end when your shift does.

First Monday of every month at the FOP hall. Please make an effort.

Things are getting worse wtihin the city. Hpefully there are members of CCPD who are young and read this forum. THIS AFFECTS YOU!!!!. Get a shift together, make a pact and make sure that SOMEONE from each shift is showing up at FOP meetings, council meetings, townhall meetings. Grab someone you trust and make them a representative.

You have to become educated in the local politics, pension meetings and such. Fight for what is yours in this contract and future contacts.

This is nothing new, the local CCPD FOP has more than 300 members, every month there is at least one new member voted in. I have yet to meet a new member once they are in (going back to 2008). Hey listen, once Kurt Grau and the current board is gone who is going to be there?

I am not saying to come in waving swords but at least acquiant yourself with what is involved, you are paying dues for "you're best interest" make something of it. The Council is political and is not necessarily on your side. If they start getting hit with benefit reductions and opt to fight where do you think they will start trimming? They make minimum salary, it won'tbe coming from them. The brotherhood/sisterhood of this line of work does not always end when your shift does.

First Monday of every month at the FOP hall. Please make an effort.

He is correct. Remember most peolple dont a wear bulletproof vest and dont have to worry about getting murdered while doing their job. Thats what we get paid for so dont let them take away anything you dont want to give up

As you can tell, the poster above is friends with some council members!! Remember, the reason they take the annuity is because they don’t need the health insurance, they have it in their pension/retirement already!! You are trying to work yourself to retirement and they want to crush you so you don’t even have the will to go out and protect the citizens. They want you to hurt in your personal life and don’t care if you are trying to raise a family!

Best paid public employees for one of the safest cities in Florida? Absolutely.

If the council cuts, people will too - to different cities or states who have respect for what the men and women in blue do for the city.

Will the city be okay with less qualified individuals who are willing to work for less pay (who maybe couldn't get hired in other locations?)

It follows the rule - pay now or pay later. It's harsh, but that's reality.

Looks like somebodies been drinking the crime stats Kool-Aid... :snicker:


Will the city be okay with less qualified individuals who are willing to work for less pay (who maybe couldn't get hired in other locations?)


Less qualified individuals? You mean people like Steve Petrovich and the others who have disgraced the department over the years? You know who they are! Just because the pay and benefits are good doesn't mean we're hiring top notch candidates to fill those positions. The Cape has always relied heavily on hiring doe eyed recruits fresh out of the academy. Most of those guys would have been thrilled to get hired on anywhere, let alone there first choice Cape Coral. :wink:

As you can tell, the poster above is friends with some council members!! Remember, the reason they take the annuity is because they don’t need the health insurance, they have it in their pension/retirement already!

Remember, if the pay for police work was so low that you needed to be independently financially successful before you could afford to pursue your real passion, police work, then you might not really need your health benefits either. Being a city council member/mayor etc. isn't a very viable profession in itself. The pay is abysmal and anyone who runs for office is already financially successful enough that they don't need to rely on the paycheck. That doesn't mean they don't deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. Whether it's police work or elected office taking a public service position shouldn't be charitable endeavor. Heck those in management positions at non-profit charities earn more then city council members do.

The original poster whining about elected officials who don't even earn a livable wage looking for budget cuts elsewhere first, while FTO base starting pay is $43K/yr+benefits sounds pretty whiny. Especially in hard economic times, that's all i'm saying.

Looks like somebodies been drinking the crime stats Kool-Aid... :snicker:


Will the city be okay with less qualified individuals who are willing to work for less pay (who maybe couldn't get hired in other locations?)


Less qualified individuals? You mean people like Steve Petrovich and the others who have disgraced the department over the years? You know who they are! Just because the pay and benefits are good doesn't mean we're hiring top notch candidates to fill those positions. The Cape has always relied heavily on hiring doe eyed recruits fresh out of the academy. Most of those guys would have been thrilled to get hired on anywhere, let alone there first choice Cape Coral. :wink:


The fact that Petrovich and other unsavories are there is the fault of the administration. Instead of cutting good officers, they mayor should start at the top.

OK, $619 a mo. x 12 mo. = $7,428. With a salary of $16,000 their total compensation (salary+opting for the annuity in lou of health care benefits) is only $23,428/yr. How much does the city's health plan that they're giving up cost per month? What's the real difference between them taking the health plan offered or opting for the annuity?

Does anyone at CCPD make less then $23.5K in combined salary and benefits? Now how many are making over $90K in salary alone? My bet is more then those who are making less then $23.5K combined. Sorry but i can't say i'm surprised a city employee whose making 16K+benefits would look elsewhere for budget cuts first! It's hardly shocking.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
--Nice try-- cloud the issue behind numbers and figures.....AND you are still missing the big picture.

You CAN NOT compare an Officer's job to the Job of a council position.

The requirements are apples to oranges. ANYONE can be a council person..(Just look at what is there now). ---Case in point----Our Mayor's education level :oops: ---seriously? :oops:

NOT everyone can be a cop and that is ok. It takes a certain person to wear the badge and those without the badge will NEVER understand. :?

NOT everyone can be a Firefighter, that too takes a certain person to hold that honor, and those without can't understand that either!

NOT everyone can be a mechanic, that takes a certain training, mental process and comprehension. Can a fireman replace worn out piston rings on a fire truck that is needed to respond to emergencies?...NOPE!

NOT everyone can be Water plant operator, Can a Cop determine the right flow of chemicals to add to the entire city drinking supply...that could be a huge danger.

All the admin/Clerical workers in City hall that keep the city flowing as smooth as possible never receive the recognition for their efforts. No one understands they too deal with stress on a day tot day basis.

This City council wanted their positions for a hobby to keep busy during their retirements while collecting supplementing their pensions. :roll: They are PART TIME!!! DONT FORGET that.

The all have their hidden agenda for their personal gain, not the City's


It is also sad..."OMG the Nerve" has to troll on an LEO board to stir the pot. Another spy.
So take this back to Sully, Deihl and Leetz.

The sad part is the police have not asked for a raise, they know times arent great right now. And the police have given up 36 hours of pay and their buyback checks, but this council ignores that!!! Most of the cops there are still serving or did serve in the military. Many of them are fighting in Iraq and Afganistan right now and they come back to a council that wants to take and take more and more from them?? Thanks for the support.

Ironic how Freddy Krueger is the one on council who is constantly attacking us in the media. Here he is getting a sweet annuity package because he already gets full medical benefits through the military. In my book that is double dipping and he is stealing from the taxpayers. What is this the Kingdom of Enron? If they think that we are going to roll over; they have another thing coming. Get ready for a fight councilmembers; we aren't *****es!

OK, $619 a mo. x 12 mo. = $7,428. With a salary of $16,000 their total compensation (salary+opting for the annuity in lou of health care benefits) is only $23,428/yr. How much does the city's health plan that they're giving up cost per month? What's the real difference between them taking the health plan offered or opting for the annuity?

Does anyone at CCPD make less then $23.5K in combined salary and benefits? Now how many are making over $90K in salary alone? My bet is more then those who are making less then $23.5K combined. Sorry but i can't say i'm surprised a city employee whose making 16K+benefits would look elsewhere for budget cuts first! It's hardly shocking.[/quoteYou CAN NOT compare an Officer's job to the Job of a council position.

The requirements are apples to oranges. ANYONE can be a council person..(Just look at what is there now). ---Case in point----Our Mayor's education level :oops: ---seriously? :oops:

NOT everyone can be a cop and that is ok. It takes a certain person to wear the badge and those without the badge will NEVER understand. :?

Your absolutely right, not everyone can be a cop. It takes a special kind of person to be a cop. It takes education, training, discipline, and honor to be a LEO. ---Case in point--- Steve Petrovich, John P. Murphy, etc. :shock: /sarcasm

Please get off your high horse. All you need to be a Cape Cop is a couple of years at a community college, to have no serious felonies on your record, and do a stint at the local police academy, which isn't spoken to highly of BTW. And if you have the right connections you don't even have to be able to pass the academy. Just ask Steve Petrovich.

As i said before the higher then average pay and benefits being offered do not correlate with the quality of the officers being hired. That's just one of the many problems the department faces. HR & IA need to start doing their jobs right. Not to take anything away from the good guys but there are plenty of bad cops among you. HR needs to stop hiring them and IA needs to start reprimanding the ones that are there.

Thanks for proving our point!! It shows that no appreciation comes from over there, all that you can do is belittle the job and the people.

And BTW to be a cop a lot of departments don't require you to have any more education the a GED or HS diploma. That hardly makes them special in the education department. You just need more then that to be a Cape Cop.

And double dipping? Is qualifying for federal VA benefits due to your military service and still receiving city paid healthcare as a LEO double dipping to? I thought double dipping required you to be collecting twice when you only qualify for one benefit or the other, not both? If you qualify for both and neither is contingent on not receiving the other, then it's not double dipping. This is the case with receiving federal healthcare based on your military service and also receiving city paid healthcare for your service to the city. At best the issue here is that the city council has by contract or ordinance another option that your contract doesn't, to forgo their healthcare in favor of a paid annuity instead. IMO the only real issue is does the annuity pay more then the cost of the healthcare plan they are opting out of. But if taking an annuity instead of you healthcare is an option that you want too then put it on your next contract agenda to fight for. I could care less whether you or council members are collecting the equivelent of your healthcare benefit as an annuity so long as it's an equal amount for both options.

Thanks for proving our point!! It shows that no appreciation comes from over there, all that you can do is belittle the job and the people.

Sorry if you see it that way. I'm not belittling the job so much as your raising the bar on what it takes to be a LEO to a ridiculous level. Maybe in an ideal world your right. But in Cape Coral the fact guys like Petrovich were long time cops refutes your theory that it takes a special caliber of person to become a LEO. Despite your ideal for law enforcement qualifications reality kind of bites you in the ass there...

MORE COPS IN ANY COMMUNITY = A MORE SECURE SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS. HOWEVER, HOW MANY ACTUAL MURDERS/ACTUAL HOME INVASION ROBBERY, DEA/NARCOTIC BIG BUSTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED/CHARTED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. SEEMS TO ME THERE IS JUST ALOT OF DUI, SPEEDING TICKET, LOW LEVEL CRIME DRAUMA ROUND THESE PARTS. THAT UHM NEW SEAT BELT LAW... JUST PC FOR JUSTIFICATION FOR PULLING OVER DRIVERS IN HOPES TO FINE RESIDENTS FOR LACK OF SEAT BELT OR SHAT ILIKE THAT??? AM I RIGHT? THIS DOES HELP INCREASE COUNTY POCKETS $$$ EH? IS THAT CCPD AGENDA NOW? EVERYBODY KNOWS IF YOU GET PULLED OVER BY COPS FOR SUPPOSED SUSPECTED LACK OF SEAT BELT AKA SAFTEY SECUREMENT DEVICE, IS JUST PC FOR YOU LOOKED WEIRD AND I HOPE TO FIND SOMETHING ON YOU, IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO BE WEARING THE SEATBELT WHEN PULLED OVER. NOTE : PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IF A COP ASKS YOU IF THEY CAN SEARCH YOUR CAR/TRUCK YOU CAN SAY NO. UNLESS COPS VISUALIZE DRUGS/ETOH/NARCS IN PLAIN VIEW OF CAR THEY CAN'T SEARCH YOUR VEHICHLE. ANY LEO MUST HAVE WITNESSED /OBSERVED/VISUALIZED A DRUG-LIKE SUBSTANCE/BEER BOTTLE OPENED IN PLAIN VIEW OF CAR NOT IN DASH BOARD, COMPARTMENT, TRUNK, UNLESS WILLINGLY OPENED BY DRIVER. NOTE IN ORDER TO SEARCH YOUR PERSONAL VEHICHLE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MUST PROVE YOU HAVE BEEN DRIVING EXTREMELY RECKLESS AND ARE SUSPECTED OF IMPAIRMENT ETOH/NARCOTICS. SOBRIETY TESTS: ?NASTAGMUS TESTING, CAN INDICATE DRUG USEAGE OR VESTIBULAR COCHLEAR DYSFUNCTION, CEREBRAL INFARCTION PRIOR OR ACUTE/CHRONIC ILLNESS AND ANY OTHER # OF NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES/DEFICITS NOT JUST ILLEGAL DRUG/ETOH ABUSE, COPS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO PERSON WHICH CRANIAL NERVE IS BEING TESTED WHY, AND WHAT FUNCTION/PURPOSE THE NERVE SERVES/IN MOTOR SENSORY PERCEPCION IN RELATION TO DRIVING, AND RISKS NYSTAGMUS COULD CAUSE IF SO DETERMINED/DIAGNOSED OR DECLARED BY AN LEO AS HAVING. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE EFFECT ON RESPONSE IN RELATION TO NEURON DISCHARGE FROM BRAIN TO SPINE TO EXTREMITY TO MOTOR /SENSORY WHAT EVER. IF THEY ARE TESTING IT THEY SHOULD KNOW AND BE ABLE TO EDUCATE YOU AND EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE AND WHY. AND IF THEY CAN'T JUST TAKE NOTE AND ALWAYS BE POLITE. VERTICAL NYSTAGMUS, LIKLEY OCCIPITAL / BRAIN STEM BLEED, CAN BE OLD NOT ACUTE. COPS HOLD CERITIFICATION IN NEUROLOGICAL DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION, FYI PUPILS CAN HAVE A 10% VARIENCE IN SIZE BILATERALLY OR UNILATERALLY WHICH IS NOT ESSENTIALLY AN ABNORMALITY AND IS CONSIDERED A NORM, HX TIA/OLD STROKE WITH RESIDUAL WEAKNESS DEFICITS TO PUPILS/EXTREMITIES ALSO CAN BE AFFECTED LONG AFTER INTIAL ATTACK. COPS SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN PHYSIOLOGY/DEFICIT IN RELATION TO EFFECT ON DRIVING AS WELL. AS A MATTER OF FACT I THINK MOST CCPD LEOS ARE CROSS TRAINED LIKE FIREFIGHTERS/ PARAMEDICS ELSE WHERE, TRAINING IS FUNDED THROUGH TAX PAYER MONEY THOUGH, HENCE SEAT BELT TICKETS. SO I F IMPAIRMENT IS NEGATIVE FOR ETOH IF SOMEONE BLEW <0.08, BUT IF POS NYSTAGMUS DUI NARC OFFENSE. HOWEVER, INTERESTING FACT LEOS MUST HAVE COURT ORDER /TO GET BLOOD DRAW ON MVC VICTOMS FOR FUTURE TRIAL CASES, JUST AN FYI. URINE SCREENS ARE CHEAPER THOUGH. BUT YOU CAN'T FORCE SOMEONE TO PEE EITHER SHUCKS. SOMETHING ELSE INTERESTING: YOU CAN REFUSE CONSENT VEHICHLE SEARCH/ EVEN IF THREATEND ARREST IN ORDER FOR PLAUSIBLE CAUSE OF FORCESEARCH/SEIZURE BY LEO, OR K9 UNIT TO SNIFF/SEARCH CAR/TRUCK, UNLESS YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR TIME, AND AN HONEST CITIZEN WHO WORKS PAYS TAXES AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE COMMUNITY JUST SAY NO THANKS TO SEARCH OF VEHICHLE. I HAVE TO SAY AGREE WITH STRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT OF IMPAIRED DRIVERS THAT PUT LIVES AT RISK BY DRIVING/ RESULTING MVC FATAL ACCIDENT INJURIES/ AND SUCH. GOD BLESS OUR TRAUMA CENTERS, ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THEY RECEIVE ANY TAX FUNDING LIKE OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ANYWAYS HAVE A NICE DAY AND DRIVE SAFE. BYE BYE NEWS-PRESS SHOULD DO MORE COMMUNITY ARTICLES THAT HELP OUR RESIDENTS.


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Things are getting worse wtihin the city. Hpefully there are members of CCPD who are young and read this forum. THIS AFFECTS YOU!!!!. Get a shift together, make a pact and make sure that SOMEONE from each shift is showing up at FOP meetings, council meetings, townhall meetings. Grab someone you trust and make them a representative.

You have to become educated in the local politics, pension meetings and such. Fight for what is yours in this contract and future contacts.

This is nothing new, the local CCPD FOP has more than 300 members, every month there is at least one new member voted in. I have yet to meet a new member once they are in (going back to 2008). Hey listen, once Kurt Grau and the current board is gone who is going to be there?

I am not saying to come in waving swords but at least acquiant yourself with what is involved, you are paying dues for "you're best interest" make something of it. The Council is political and is not necessarily on your side. If they start getting hit with benefit reductions and opt to fight where do you think they will start trimming? They make minimum salary, it won'tbe coming from them. The brotherhood/sisterhood of this line of work does not always end when your shift does.

First Monday of every month at the FOP hall. Please make an effort.

He is correct. Remember most peolple dont a wear bulletproof vest and dont have to worry about getting murdered while doing their job. Thats what we get paid for so dont let them take away anything you dont want to give up[/quote]

You messed the title up. Here let me fix that for you, "City Council wants to punish city employees, citizens rejoice".

You messed the title up. Here let me fix that for you, "City Council wants to punish city employees, citizens rejoice".


Lurch and Krueger need to go!!!