Tom
11-04-2009, 11:37 AM
The tentative new firefighter contract provides savings that will allow the four positions eliminated in the past year to be refilled, Town Administrator Michael Boynton told Town Meeting Monday night.
The restoration, though, does not mean that the East Walpole fire station, closed July 1 for staffing reasons, can be reopened Chief Timothy Bailey told the finance committee before the start of Town Meeting. Based on experience, the department will still not have enough firefighters to reopen a second station, Bailey said.
Set for a Town Meeting vote Monday, Oct. 26. the contract reduces the number of officers and firefighters required per shift from eight to seven. The reduction is aimed at cutting overtime.
Retroactive to July 1, 2008, the three-year contract provides a zero wage increase for the first year, 3 percent in each of the second and third years and 1 percent at the end of the third year. While the contract does not specify the restoration of the four jobs, Boynton said the zero retroactive year makes it possible.
The tentative contract provides for a $25,000 payment in 2011 for three senior retiring firefighter/EMTs to speed the transition to firefighter/paramedics.
As part of a one-year-only statewide program, Governor Patrick has offered $212,000 for Walpole to rehire three of the four firefighters whose jobs were cut. Those firefighters, though, have been working on the Sharon department for months.
Walpole's congressman, Steve Lynch, offered a brief update on stimulus money at the start of Town Meeting. He said he believed that something can be worked out regarding the provision that the firefighter dollars can be used only for rehiring.
Town Meeting approved a new contract for library workers, reached through state mediation, that provides sizable step raises that still leaves Walpole behind other towns and cuts the town health insurance share from 80 percent to 70 percent. With the insurance savings, the total cost to the town of the three-year pact is a bit less than under three years of the previous contract, Boynton said.
The agreement on the new firefighter contract was reached late last week, leaving not enough time under the Town Charter for Town Meeting action this week. That contract is the only item of business left for fall Town Meeting.
Monday night, a proposed zoning use table was referred back to selectmen for more work and a change of aquifer classification for a parcel next to Walpole Park South was withdrawn without discussion. (Previous stories.) James Taylor's petition to prevent override revotes within two years went down decisively on a voice vote.
The restoration, though, does not mean that the East Walpole fire station, closed July 1 for staffing reasons, can be reopened Chief Timothy Bailey told the finance committee before the start of Town Meeting. Based on experience, the department will still not have enough firefighters to reopen a second station, Bailey said.
Set for a Town Meeting vote Monday, Oct. 26. the contract reduces the number of officers and firefighters required per shift from eight to seven. The reduction is aimed at cutting overtime.
Retroactive to July 1, 2008, the three-year contract provides a zero wage increase for the first year, 3 percent in each of the second and third years and 1 percent at the end of the third year. While the contract does not specify the restoration of the four jobs, Boynton said the zero retroactive year makes it possible.
The tentative contract provides for a $25,000 payment in 2011 for three senior retiring firefighter/EMTs to speed the transition to firefighter/paramedics.
As part of a one-year-only statewide program, Governor Patrick has offered $212,000 for Walpole to rehire three of the four firefighters whose jobs were cut. Those firefighters, though, have been working on the Sharon department for months.
Walpole's congressman, Steve Lynch, offered a brief update on stimulus money at the start of Town Meeting. He said he believed that something can be worked out regarding the provision that the firefighter dollars can be used only for rehiring.
Town Meeting approved a new contract for library workers, reached through state mediation, that provides sizable step raises that still leaves Walpole behind other towns and cuts the town health insurance share from 80 percent to 70 percent. With the insurance savings, the total cost to the town of the three-year pact is a bit less than under three years of the previous contract, Boynton said.
The agreement on the new firefighter contract was reached late last week, leaving not enough time under the Town Charter for Town Meeting action this week. That contract is the only item of business left for fall Town Meeting.
Monday night, a proposed zoning use table was referred back to selectmen for more work and a change of aquifer classification for a parcel next to Walpole Park South was withdrawn without discussion. (Previous stories.) James Taylor's petition to prevent override revotes within two years went down decisively on a voice vote.