WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. March 21, 2006: As reported first by WPCNR last week, Dr. Frank Straub and Albert Moronie, Director of Parking, confirmed to the Common Council their mutually agreed-upon plans to transfer the Public Safety Aides from being employed by the Department of Public Safety to being employed by the city Department of Parking beginning July 1. Previously a Public Safety Aide  who broke the story to WPCNR had reported to us the change was to take place this week. Dr. Straub and Mr. Moronie indicated there would be no other changes to the Aides' employment status other than new uniform patches reading "Parking Enforcement Officer."

In the short explanation, Mr. Moronie disclosed  the Department of Parking has been told by the city that it is expected to generate $16 Million in licensing fees, parking fees and $6 Million of that via parking fines. In 2004-2005, the Parking Department (under the increased fine schedule where each parking ticket is $15),  collected $5,671,080.  To this endeavor, Mr. Moronie told the council the Department of Parking was examining ways to increase the revenue generated from the now tentatively retitled "Parking Enforcement Officers." He said a number of options were being considered from increasing staff to other alternatives not disclosed.

Commissioner of Public Safety Frank Straub said that the decision to move the Public Safety Aides over to Parking,  was made because when disputes and matters of discipline arose, his officers presently in charge of the Public Safety Aides were not familiar with the orders and procedures requested by the Department of Parking, complicating the Department of Public Safety ability to address issues efficiently in disciplinary disputes with Public Safety Aides. They became "bogged down" he said.  He did not say how often this became a problem.

Mr. Moronie said the Civil Service Employees Association and its union head, Joe Roche, who has not returned a WPCNR NewsCall, "had no problem" with the shift of departmental jurisdiction. Moronie also noted as an explanation for the changeover that it would take the salary expense of the aides reported as $2.3 Million from the Police Department and put it in the Department of Parking where it belonged.  Straub said the newly tentatively titled Public Enforcement Officers would still have radio contact with the police as they do now, and be available for traffic control as necessary.

Asked whether there was any objection on the part of the Public Safety Aides to the transfer, Dr. Straub said mostly he characterized their objections as "fear of change."