Caribou council signs IAFF memo, agrees to PFML premium payment and sets 2026 nonunion COLA
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Summary
Council approved memorandums with IAFF 5191, authorized the city manager to sign, agreed to pay the full 1% Maine Paid Family Medical Leave premium for 2026 (estimated $50,000), approved a 3% COLA for nonunion employees and authorized dispatchers to join the Maine State Retirement Plan.
At its Dec. 15 meeting the Caribou City Council approved several personnel and compensation items affecting city employees.
The council approved memorandums of understanding with IAFF Local 5191 (Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department employees), including a retroactive pay adjustment tied to previously budgeted increases, and authorized City Manager Penny Thompson to sign on behalf of the city. The motion passed unanimously.
Manager Thompson recommended the city pay the full 1% premium for the Maine Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) program for the 2026 budget year. Finance estimated the city’s 2026 payroll at roughly $5,000,000, making the 1% premium about $50,000. Thompson said, “My recommendation is for the city to pay the full 1% premium in 2026.” Councilors discussed fairness and collective-bargaining implications but voted to approve the manager’s recommendation.
The council also approved a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for regular nonunion employees, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Councilors noted the state minimum-wage increase and the 3.08% figure used by unions, but supported a 3% increase for nonunion staff as proposed by management.
Separately, council addressed a technical change to allow dispatchers (who have since been added to the union contract) to participate in the Maine State Retirement Plan; council approved that administrative change as presented. Council members emphasized that language on sharing PFML premium costs will be addressed as collective-bargaining negotiations continue.
