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Panel recommends retroactive pay and stipend increases tied to fire contract
Summary
The advisory finance committee recommended a $153,000 transfer for retroactive pay and an additional $175,000 (plus $9,600) to cover new fire department salary and expense items arising from a recently negotiated contract, including raised EMT/paramedic stipends and Juneteenth as a holiday.
The Westborough Advisory Finance Committee on Sept. 30 recommended funding adjustments to implement a newly negotiated fire department contract, including retroactive payments and increased stipends for emergency medical personnel.
Town staff described that the package includes a retroactive payment (funded from available funds), a $175,000 raise‑appropriate for fiscal‑25 salary and wages and a $9,600 increase in fire department expenses largely tied to clothing‑allowance reimbursements. EMT stipends will increase in steps from $3,000 to higher amounts over the contract term; paramedic stipends increase from $7,600 to $9,500 in fiscal 24 and then to $10,000 in fiscal 25. The contract also adds Juneteenth as a paid holiday and establishes tuition‑reimbursement caps and a two‑year look‑back payback provision should employees leave voluntarily within that period.
Member McMahon moved to recommend the article and Member Bradley seconded. Committee members confirmed that earlier estimated tax impacts presented at the budget summit included these adjustments. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the transfers (9–0–0).
Staff said the warrant motion is structured so the retroactive amount ($153,000) would be drawn from available funds, and the $175,000 appropriation would be added to fiscal‑25 salary/wage lines to reflect turnover and step changes. The $9,600 expense increase was described as predominantly clothing allowances; turnout gear and major safety equipment remain provided by the department.
The committee asked for clarity on which line items in FY24 closed to free cash and how the FY25 budget will reflect contract changes; staff confirmed that the budget book will reflect the updated estimates and that department turnover was already captured in the current calculations.
The recommendation will go to town meeting for final approval.
