Tuesday, July 13
July 13, 2010Ellis Warren Jr.
July 15, 2010Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle will sail into his fifth term in office next year with an added bonus: An $18,000 raise.
No one qualified to run against LaSalle in the fall election, returning him to office unopposed.
Earlier this month, the Patterson City Council unanimously approved the pay hike for its new chief of police. The raise becomes effective in January.
Under the new pay structure, a first-term chief will earn $38,400 annually. A second-term chief would receive $40,800 annually, and a third-term chief, $43,200 per year. A fourth-term chief earns $48,000; fifth term, $66,000; and a sixth term, $84,000 annually.
In addition, the police chief receives a car allowance, health insurance, retirement and vacation.
LaSalle’s first term began in 1995. His office ended the fiscal year more than $100,000 under its projected $1.46 million budget.
During his tenure as police chief, the department raked in high numbers of DUI and drug abuse arrests.
LaSalle said his department is launching a door-to-door census of its own to further assist emergency rescue, police and fire 911 calls in the city.
The 2010-11 city budget was rolled out at the same meeting the police chief’s pay raise was approved. According to the figures, Patterson’s budget shows $6.681 million in revenues and $6.409 million in expenditures.
The council would realize a surplus of $272,392. It has $17.245 million in reserves.
Patterson ended the 2009-10 fiscal year with a balance of $16.973 million.
Among the expenditures planned for this year are $127,915 for police vehicles and equipment upgrades and $100,000 for computer and software improvements.
The majority of Patterson’s revenue is generated from utilities. The 100-year-old city supplies utilities to its nearly 6,000 residents.
The city council will hold its first public hearing on the budget Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. in the council’s chambers on Main Street.
In other business last week, the Patterson City Council approved use of a $1 million Community Development Block Grant to replace culverts on Mike and Leo drives to correct drainage problems.
Also, the council approved liquor and beer sales permits to Reginald Thomas, owner of Online Productions. The company recently purchased the Patterson Skating Rink on Stable Road.
Thomas said he intends to operate the facility as a skating rink, but also plans to rent it out for social functions, meetings and events such as wedding receptions.
“When we’re operating as the rink, we will have all liquor locked up and stored away,” he told the council.
Questioned over the issue, LaSalle said he’d met with Thomas to research the proposal. The police chief said he was satisfied with the permits being issued.
