Paid Firefighters, Town Agree on New Contract

The Town Council ratified a contract recently with one of the town’s smallest unions. Local 3103, International Association of Firefighters, which represents the town’s eight paid firefighters, and the town of Farmington agreed on the contract, including changes in the pension plan, wage scale and health insurance plan for new hires.

The plan, which runs from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014, includes “language and procedural changes that have no net cost impact but are favorable to the town’s needs,” Town Manager Kathy Eagen wrote in the meeting agenda.

A list of changes outlined in the agenda includes:

New Employee Pension changes to include: Choice of a Defined Contribution Plan or Defined Benefit Plan with Plan changes:

• Defined Contribution – 6% Town / 6% Employee v Defined Benefit Changes - Increase contribution level; Increase early retirement requirements; Benefit Cap of 68% of base salary at time of retirement.

• Modest increase in uniform and boot allowance. Ø Annual Max on Rx plan - Increase to $2500.
• Health Insurance Cost Share: 2011-2012 -16% (no change); 2012-2013 - 17%; 2013-2014 -18%
• Health Insurance Cost Share (New Hire) : 2011-2012 -20% 2012-2013 - 21%; 2013-2014 -22%
• Ability to offer Alternative Health Insurance Plan language. Ø COLA : 2011-2012 - 2.0%; 2012-2013 – 2.0%; 2013-2014 – 2.5%
• New Hires Pay Plan -Step plan eliminated for new hires. Town Manager to hire within salary range, commensurate with experience. 1% longevity increment at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service implemented.
• At the end of the 3 years the overall cost of this contract will be $29,423 or 2.14% per year. 

The plan does away with the traditional step wage scale and replaces it with 1 percent longevity increments.

“I think this is a very good contract for the town of Farmington and for the firefighters,” Eagen said. “It’s fair and in line with other contracts in the town and with other fire contracts.”