On the heels of Toledo Mayor Mike Bell's official endorsement of a contentious law to limit the collective bargaining rights of public employees, the mayor of Waterville yesterday announced his own support for the measure.

Derek Merrin, a Republican who took office in 2008, told The Blade he believes the law commonly referred-to as Senate Bill 5 is "reasonable and fair" and protects taxpayers. He planned to announce his support last night at a "Taxpayer Town Hall" event in Tiffin, sponsored by the conservative group Americans for Prosperity.

"I think all communities need to implement these reasonable measures," Mayor Merrin said. "I was proud of Mayor Bell and I'm glad he's standing up to the union and standing up for the people of Toledo."

Senate Bill 5 is set for a referendum vote in November and has drawn heated opposition from labor unions and Democratic officials.

The far-reaching Senate Bill 5, among other things, prohibits all public employees from striking, limits the subjects of negotiation at the bargaining table, requires employees to pay at least 15 percent of their health insurance, and prohibits the automatic deduction of "fair-share" fees in lieu of dues from the paychecks of employees who refuse to join the workplace union.

Waterville has implemented some of the measures in the bill, including reducing the number of paid sick days and asking employees to pay 15 percent toward their health-care costs. Employees also are solely responsible for their share of pension payments, the mayor said.

Mayor Merrin said he deeply opposes allowing an independent arbitrator to settle labor disputes, a practice Senate Bill 5 would eliminate.

"I really take exception with the whole idea of binding arbitration," the mayor said. "You cannot have unelected outside arbitrators overruling democratically elected officials. That is not a democratic process."

First Published September 2, 2011, 5:14 a.m.