Sep 14, 2008 2:21 pm US/Eastern
Gov. Patrick To Outline Use Of Flaggers At Hearing
Police Unions Hope To Block Measure
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Police details cost the state about $25 million each year.
WBZ
The Patrick administration is planning to hold a public hearing on Monday to talk about the use of civilians flaggers at some construction sites in Massachusetts. Gov. Deval Patrick's team is expected to discuss the regulations that have been drafted.
The police unions are against the idea of
swapping out police officers for flaggers and are currently trying to add language in their labor contracts that would prevent cities and towns from using flaggers.
Police details cost the state about $25 million each year. Under the new regulations coming this fall, a small percentage of police officers on state road projects would be replaced with civilian flaggers, who would cost less.
The regulations call for using flaggers only on state roadways where the speed limit is less than 45 mph, which is less than one-third of all state roads.
Discuss: Police Details DebateAn analyst told WBZ's Joe Shortsleeve last month that the state would save about $5 million by using flaggers at some construction sites. That's because non-union flaggers make anywhere from $20 to $37 an hour. Compare that to state police troopers, who get paid at least $40 an hour.
At first the flaggers would be drawn from employees already working for the state.
State Executives would not say how many current or future road projects would be affected by these regulations.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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