PFRS Trustee, he started by talking at length with Bennett. You
can almost imagine him creating some kind of detailed note-
book for the job, just like charting every detail when responding
to a traffic accident. Except his pension notebook might be in
his head, for very few law enforcement officers have the knowl-
edge, bandwidth and ability to recite chapter and verse off the
top as Charlie does.
The capacity doubles when focused on an effort like politi-
cal action or a hot topic like the health of the pension system.
Something that affects the members will get Charlie to burn the
candle at both ends and bring the fire for the PBA.
Take collective bargaining, for exampl e, to get a feel for Char-
lie’s passion to see the fight.
“I’m tired of apologizing for what we get,” he begins. “That
2-percent cap has turned it into collective bullying. They slide
an offer across the table and tell you it’s slightly better than what
you would get if you go to arbitration. Where’s the bargaining?”
But it’s not all talk.
“The way I look at it, the times have changed, the law en-
forcement environment has changed and the political climate
has changed,” he reasons. “We have to adapt and work out the
best-case scenarios for us. Even when you’re on the right track
to success, if you stand still, you will get run over.”
Maybe that’s why Charlie is always on the move. Executive
Vice President Kovar recalls how Charlie never seemed to tire
when driving the Bergen PAC that helped several state legis-
lators get elected in 2015 and brought out the vote to get Josh
Gottheimer elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in No-
vember 2016. Sitting at the table with those politicians will no
doubt be a significant asset when dealing with the politics that
come through the PFRS Board’s room.
As Biamonte watched the political assistance unfold, he no-
ticed, that beyond his relentless meticulousness, how much of
“I want to be there to protect the pension. I
want to figure out ways to make things work,
not find ways to not make them work.”
a motivator Charlie can be. Pellegrino evaluates this as oh-so
important interpersonal skills that help Charlie get the message
across without going too far.
Perhaps a perspective from somebody who watches Charlie
every day on the job can elaborate:
“With Charlie, it’s all about getting the job done. He’s 24-7,
100 percent,” says Local 348 member Lieutenant John Gaffney.
“Any time we need him, he can be reached at a moment’s notice.
He just wants what’s fair for us, and he’s passionate about that.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
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