DIXFIELD – Selectmen approved a new three-year contract with the town’s five public works employees Tuesday night that includes a 3 percent retroactive salary increase to July 1, 2005.
Board Chairman Tony Carter said the new contract extends to July 1, 2008.
Although the salary increase is retroactive, the remaining parts of the agreement begin on Jan. 1, 2006.
These include several steps that more formally outline duties of the department. Among them is greater flexibility in work hours during the summer so that sometimes workers will work four, 10-hour days, and other times, five, eight-hour days, contingent upon the road being done. The schedule will be set by mutual agreement in early May.
During the winter plowing season, workers will receive a 24-hour notice if overtime is needed.
The new contract also creates new job titles so employees can advance within the department. In the past, the department was comprised of an administrative assistant and laborers. The new contract calls for truck drivers/operators, a mechanic and a lead man.
Additional monetary increases will be provided as employees complete courses toward water operator licenses.
Also, the annual clothing allowance was increased from $200 to $300.
Carter said the lateness in settling the contract was due to losing their full-time town manager in June, then hiring a half-time town manager.
The town’s public works employees are represented by Local 340 of the Teamsters AFL-CIO.
Comments are no longer available on this story