EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
New Hampshire
Hampstead ratifies police contract
Deal awaits voters' decision
Published: January 14, 2009
HAMPSTEAD — For the first time in town history, the selectmen are poised to sign a union contract. But the impact of the new police contract on taxes may not be presented until a public hearing tonight.
The collective bargaining agreement is for two years and goes into effect April 1, if the warrant article wins Town Meeting approval in March.
Selectmen ratified the agreement in principle at their regular meeting Monday night, but declined to give any details because the union had not voted on the agreement.
The union ratified the pact yesterday morning. Although the contract became public yesterday, once both sides ratified it, the selectmen said yesterday they want the Budget Committee to review the numbers before they make any statements about money.
Overall, the contract will represent a "modest increase" in police pay, said Selectman Jim Stewart, who handled the negotiations for his board. Some salaries were frozen, according to Lt. Robert Kelley, the union president.
Under the base wage schedule:
A sergeant would earn $26 an hour this year and then $26.75 next year
Detectives would receive $23.50 or $24.50 an hour depending on seniority and then $24.16 or $25.19 next year
Patrol officers' salaries would fall into a range starting at $20.50 for a recruit and rise to $23.50 for an officer with more than five years on the job. Part-time patrol officers would receive $16.75 an hour
Dispatchers would earn between $16 and $16.50 hourly. Overtime and shift differentials would increase the base pay
Stewart said he believes the pact is fair to both taxpayers and police.
"We're not trying to hide anything," he said, but added it was difficult to sum up the financial impact of the contract, which introduces a new wage schedule and does not provide across-the-board percentage increases. Raises are similar to receiving a cost-of-living increase.
"It's a cost in some areas," Stewart said of the contract. "It's a savings in other areas."
Asked if the selectmen voted for the pact without knowing exactly how much it would cost the community, Stewart said the selectmen did have an estimate and he believes the number is "close" to the actual cost of the collective bargaining agreement.
Kelley called the contract "very much industry standard." It calls upon some officers to pay part of their health insurance benefits — 10 percent in the first year and 15 percent in the second, but only under the family plan.
Unmarried officers who do not have the family plan would continue to receive 100 percent of health care benefits. Kelley could not say for sure how many officers would contribute to the health plan but thought only three would still be receiving 100 percent benefits.
"We stepped up," he said, because all other town employees now receive 100 percent health benefits.
Six police officers belong to the union, but the contract actually covers 10. Some new hires may become eligible for union benefits and could decide to join later, he said.
Selectmen's Chairman Richard Hartung also wanted to wait for tonight's public hearing to talk about financial figures. He said the numbers were "still being crunched."
Asked why the selectmen approved the contract before they knew the actual cost, Hartung said the board used "rough numbers." But rather than give those numbers and make a mistake, he preferred to let the Budget Committee present the specifics.
Since taxpayers will not have to vote until March, he said he believes people will have ample time to study the contract.
This contract would be the first for town government, he said. The school district has entered into collective bargaining agreements in the past.
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