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Council declines to ratify multi-year tentative agreement with school support staff union
Summary
The council voted against ratifying a tentative multi-year agreement between the Somersworth School Board and the Somersworth Educational Support Personnel Association (SESPA); several councilors cited uncertainty about future state and federal funding as their reason for opposing a multi-year contract.
The Somersworth City Council on May 19 declined to ratify a tentative multi-year agreement between the Somersworth School Board and the Somersworth Educational Support Personnel Association (SESPA), following a roll-call vote in which multiple councilors said concerns about uncertain state and federal funding led them to oppose multi-year financial commitments.
The nut graf: Supporters on the council said stability for school support staff is valuable, while opponents said committing to multi-year increases now could create budget uncertainty later; the vote failed and the school board and union will continue negotiations if the parties choose.
Councilor Crystal Paradis Catanzaro moved to ratify the tentative agreement and was seconded for discussion. Several councilors — including David A. Witham, Councilor Cameron, Councilor Barry, Martin Pepin, Kenneth S. Vincent and Gibson — voiced concern about unknown state and federal funding trajectories and therefore opposed ratification at this time. Superintendent Shea and the school board indicated that if the council did not ratify, the school department would return to bargaining with the union; in the meantime, existing contracts would continue.
The roll-call vote was recorded as: Paradis Catanzaro (aye), Michaud (aye), Witham (no), Cameron (no), Barry (no), Pepin (no), Vincent (no), Gibson (no). The motion failed and the agreement was not ratified.
Officials said a failed ratification would send the contract back to bargaining; Superintendent Shea told council the district would continue operations under existing contract terms while negotiations continue.
