D.R. NO. 88-7

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

BEFORE THE DIRECTOR OF REPRESENTATION

In the Matter of

CITY OF BEVERLY

Public Employer-Petitioner,

-and-	Docket No. CU-87-73

BEVERLY POLICE ASSOCIATION,

Employee Representative.

Appearances:

For the Public Employer-Petitioner

Denis C. Germano, Esquire

For the Employee Representative

Harry Craythorn, President

DECISION

On June 2, 1987, the City of Beverly filed a Petition for Clarification of Unit with the Public Employment Relations Commission seeking to exclude the Chief of Police from the police negotiations unit represented by the Beverly Police Association. The City contends that the Chief is a managerial executive within the meaning of the the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act ("Act") and cannot continue to be included in the police unit. The Assocation objects to the proposed exclusion of the Chief. Its position is predicated upon (a) the past practice of the Chief's inclusion, (b) the non-supervisory duties of the Chief.

Managerial executives as defined by the Act are:

Person(s) who formulate management policies and practices and persons who are charged with the responsibility of directing the effectuation of such management policies and practices ..." N.J.S.A. 34:13A-3(f)

In Egg Harbor Tp., P.E.R.C. No. 85-46, 10 NJPER 632 (¶15304 1984), the Commission held that powers conveyed by statute to municipal chiefs of police in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 created a statutory command1/ that, without exception, makes police chiefs managerial executives within the meaning of the Act. Managerial executives are not public employees within the meaning of the Act and, therefore, are not afforded the protections of the Act, including the right to negotiate collectively.

Accordingly, we determine that the police collective negotiations unit is hereby clarified to exclude the Chief of Police, effective immediately.2/

BY ORDER OF THE DIRECTOR

REPRESENTATION

Edmund G. Gerber, Director

DATED: September 3, 1987

Trenton, New Jersey

1/	See Gauntt v. Mayor & Council of the City of Bridgeton, 194 N.J. Super. 468 (App. Div. 1984)

2/	Pursuant to Clearview Reg. Bd. of Ed., D.R. 78-2, 4 NJPER 477 (1978), a determination to remove a managerial executives is given immediate effect.