Nahant Town Meeting mulls nixing Quinn Bill

NAHANT – The Quinn Bill could be a thing of the past in town if Town Meeting approves rescinding, but town officials said police officers would still retain some of their educational incentives.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan placed an article on the draft warrant asking Town Meeting to rescind acceptance of the Quinn Bill, which was adopted a decade ago. He said the town adopted the Quinn Bill in 2001 with the caveat the state continues to pick up 50 percent of the tab but educational incentives would be included in the union contract between the police and town.?We had provisions for educational incentives prior to the Quinn Bill,” Cullinan said. “That won’t change. We’re not taking anything away from them. We’re still paying our share and will continue to pay our share.”Cullinan said even if Town Meeting votes to rescind the Quinn Bill, police officers in town would receive educational incentives. He said the contract between the police union and town would give officers an increase in base salary ? 5 percent for an associate’s degree, 10 percent for a bachelor’s degree and 12.5 percent for officers, who have a masters degree.Cullinan said the Quinn Bill, which was passed by the state in 1970, gives police officers a 10 percent increase in base pay for an associate’s degree, a 20 percent hike for a bachelor’s degree and 25 percent increase in base pay for a master’s or law degree.Nahant Police Chief Robert Dwyer said he supports educational incentives for police officers.?I believe it is important we have college educated police officers,” Dwyer said.According to figures provided by the state, the Quinn Bill typically cost taxpayers $100 million a year, split equally between the state and the communities where the officers work. The law states communities that adopt the incentive program would be reimbursed by the state for half of the cost but due to fiscal constraints the state has slashed its funding for the program from $50.2 million in FY ?09 to $5 million for FY ?11.Cullinan said as the state reduced its funding for the educational incentive program, questions have been raised about whether municipalities are obligated to make up the difference. Several lawsuits have been filed by police officers in other communities arguing they should receive the full benefits of the Quinn Bill regardless of whether the money comes from the town or the state.He said rescinding the Quinn Bill is in the best interest of the town due to several court cases that are pending statewide, which could have far reaching implications.?It’s more or less housekeeping,” Cullinan said. “I don’t want a law on the books that could cost us money down the road because of a court decision.”Selectman Richard Lombard said the town is currently in amicable negotiations with the police union regarding the educational benefits.?It’s sad the state stopped funding for this program,” Lombard said. “It’s a great incentive for police officers to continue their education. An educated police force is a positive thing. But we are negotiating what we would have paid under the Quinn Bill into the new police contract. It’s just a shame that the state starts these programs and won’t fund them.”Selectman Michael Manning said he believes the state would never fund the Quinn Bill at its previous levels.?It’s a fantasy,” Manning said. “The state invents these programs and then pulls funding. It never restores funding for these programs after cutting them.”Selectman Lainey Titus, who formerly served as chief-of-staff to Rep. Steve Walsh (D-Lynn), agreed the state would probably not fund the program in the foreseeable future.?You can never say never,” Titus said. “But based on how the economy has been going I don’t see funding being restored.”