Poll: Police Detail or Road Flagger

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

[Poll #1577209]

Comments

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Police overtime is EXPENSIVE and should consequently be avoided whenever possible!

That said, I am only in favor of mandating one over the other if one is demonstrably cheaper than the other. I am always in favor of GOOD ARITHMETIC IN GOVERNMENT.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

it's often semi-retired police officers doing these duties (at least in the district my ex's dad, but I would be in favor of implementing laws that gave them or other part timers priority. I know often they have other structures in place.

I also think police officers deserve more pay than their base salary in general, and I'm pretty sure the union negotiations include compensation from overtime as part of its overall formula.

Also, wasn't there a globe article that showed using flaggers was costing the state more money?

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

They found it's costing more to use flaggers in Boston:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/allston/town_info/government/x1043119523/Boston-wants-to-use-cops-not-flaggers-on-construction-details

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

I've heard the argument about flaggers costing more - but I know there must be something fishy about this.

Why does it cost Somerville $15 an hour to hire crossing guards to protect our children by actively escorting children and stopping traffic. But it costs $40 per hour (either to police officers or flaggers) to protect construction equipment by doing absolutely nothing.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Prevailing wage law, that why it costs so much.

Crossing guards aren't considered laborers, flaggers are.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

There's a big difference between stopping traffic, and directing it. My local school crossing guard tries to direct it. I wish he didn't.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

i believe accidents around construction sites are one of the leading causes of death among traffic incidents, and MA has one of the lowest such rates in the country. There was a big argument that using police is one of the reasons this is the case. I am only guessing that in order to prevent the death rates from rising, the state is requiring significant qualifications to do the job (just guessing though).

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

It's not overtime, and when someone other than the city government is doing the work (NSTAR, COMCAST, etc) it is paid for BY the company, with a 10% admin fee paid into the city coffers.