PARIS — The town’s third union — this one for per-diem firefighters — is nearly finalized and department heads say it has improved morale.

Firefighters voted in November to form a union with Teamsters Local 340. The vote was counted on Nov. 30, according to Town Manager Vic Hodgkins.

“I know the guys are still waiting for the final paperwork for the union, so that’s not in place as of yet, but they did vote to do it,” Interim Fire Chief Scott Hunter said.

Lorne Smith, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 340, acknowledged that it took almost a year for the firefighters to vote to unionize. The process began in December 2015.

“That one was dragged out a little more,” Smith said. “That was challenged and re-challenged. I will be coming up to meet with the Fire Department and we will be beginning negotiations shortly. It’s moving along. It is not as contentious as what I had figured.”

Lat year, about roughly 30 of the town’s employees showed up at Smith’s Portland office seeking to form unions because they were “scared for their future,” and worried about job security, he said at the time.

The unionization action came after selectmen pledged to cut $500,000 in municipal spending from the fiscal 2016 budget. This was prompted when resident (and now selectman) Scott Buffington petitioned the select board to cap the town’s mill rate to the state average to make Paris more competitive with neighboring towns, which was ultimately deemed not valid by the town’s attorney.

Buffington organized a citizen petition after the mill rate jumped 40 cents and many residents called for tax relief.

Town officials blamed the school district for Paris’ increased contribution to SAD 17. School officials said it was the town’s revaluation that caused the higher tax rate.

Eighteen per-diem firefighters will join the five administrative employees who voted to form their union in March. The Police Department has had a union for years which currently has six members.

“We’ve had several sessions with the police and the admin unit and we are very close to (finalizing) the police (contract),” Smith said. “The admin contract being the first contract, it takes a little longer. I was quite surprised at how well it’s going (considering) all the circumstances.”

Employees of the Highway Department voted earlier this year not to form a union, but they have a year to reconsider their vote. Hodgkins did not have an update on the department, and Highway Director Jamie Hutchinson couldn’t be reached for comment.

From January to November 2016, the town has spent $25,101 on attorney’s fees for union work, according to Town Clerk Liz Knox. Hodgkins said he believes the town is on the other side of the major expense for unionization in town.

“I don’t anticipate a lot more in terms of direct expense (for) lawyers for union negotiations,” he said. “We are doing our own negotiations.”

Hodgkins and the majority of the town’s department heads say morale has improved in town.

“I think we are in a far better space today than we were a year ago,” Hodgkins said, who served as selectman before he was appointed town manager.

Hunter agreed.

“It seems to be better,” he said. “As far as everything (the firefighters) are looking for, we are hoping to address those issues in the upcoming budget. Hopefully, it won’t be much of a problem when it’s all said and done.”

Police Detective Sgt. Mike Dailey said any time there are negotiations, it can be tense. But he doesn’t recall this being any different from what he and the rest of the department experience every three years when it’s time to hammer out a new contract.

“I think any time you start getting stability, that takes care of some of the issues you may have,” he said.

In April, Detective Richard Belanger and Interim Police Chief Jeff Lange left for jobs elsewhere, citing negativity in town. And in August, Code Enforcement Officer Fred Collins put in his two-week notice and Fire Chief Brad Frost retired early, both citing negativity and low morale.

But things appear to be on the upswing in Paris, officials say.

“As long as everything is stable, I think everyone here is happy,” Dailey said.

Knox agreed that things are getting better.

“Morale is up, but like anything, if they start the talk of cutting it will bring down the staff,” she said. “I am not going to lie; it is different, but I don’t feel or see the negativity like before. I feel and see the town going in a more positive way. We will always have a bump in the road along the way, but it is getting better.”

Smith said negotiations with Fire Department personnel will begin in January and he hopes to have a contract ratified during the first quarter of the calendar year.

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