Unfair labor practice charge filed against Conewago Township

The Conewago Township Police Officers' Association has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Conewago Township.

The complaint was filed with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on Sept. 23.

Officers maintain township officials targeted Conewago Township Police Sgt. John Lucabaugh, Detective William Hartlaub and Officers Matthew Kile and Michael Bailey after the four were involved in contentious negotiations with the township to reach a five-year collective bargaining agreement.

Supervisors made false allegations of misconduct by the officers to justify terminating them, the complaint states.

The association's complaint was filed two weeks after Police Chief David Williams filed a federal lawsuit against township officials, alleging that supervisors made his job difficult after he refused to fire certain officers at the request of township officials.

Hartlaub was placed on administrative leave with pay pending a psychological evaluation, but the reasons for the exam were false, pre-textual and done for punitive reasons, according to the complaint. Other officers were denied requests that had never been denied by the township in the past, the complaint states.

Since the collective bargaining agreement was ratified, the township has created or orchestrated actions taken against police officers in attempts to exhaust the association's legal funds, the complaint states.

Before Williams filed his suit, officers did not know about the anti-union animus that the association maintains led to the discriminatory action taken by the township, the charges state.

"It is unfortunate that while the officers are representing and protecting the township's citizens with the utmost professionalism, they are subjected to such antics by elected officials," the association said in a release. "The taxpayers of Conewago Township deserve better from their Board of Supervisors."

Township manager Marcy Krum did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Township solicitor Richard Wagner said he was unfamiliar with the association's unfair labor complaints. Wagner does not represent the township for labor disputes, he said.

Mark Walters covers Adams County for The Evening Sun. Contact him at 717-637-3736 ext. 147.

Source: The Evening Sun