Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Administrator details fire-department contract changes, $3M-plus W. Union project and new permitting portal
Summary
Administrator Sondra Riviello told the council that two resolutions on the agenda would renew and amend the fire-department collective-bargaining agreement (2026–2029), that the W. Union Street paving project faces delays after a water-main break with costs anticipated to exceed $3 million and about $1.023 million in grants secured, and that a new land-management database is near launch.
Administrator Sondra Riviello presented several operational items at the Jan. 20 Town Council work session. She reviewed two resolutions on the agenda — Resolution 26-01, which the transcript describes as renewing the collective-bargaining agreement with the fire department for 2026 through 2029, and Resolution 26-02, described as amending the current agreement. Riviello said the most significant changes in the new term concern wages and health care and that an amendment to the pay scale under Article 7 is intended to recruit and retain firefighter/paramedic personnel; an employment advertisement to hire firefighter/paramedic staff is running.
Riviello noted a clerical discrepancy between the agenda and the resolution numbers (the transcript references both “26-01” and “2602”) and said the discrepancy was limited to numbering; titles and content remain the same for voting purposes.
On infrastructure, Riviello reported the W. Union Street paving project has been delayed by a water-main break and will proceed in phases. She said the project is "anticipated to cost in excess of $3 million," and that grants currently secured total about $1.023 million. Riviello added she has begun a waiver process to seek more than the 30% match allowed under the grant to cover the remaining cost.
Riviello also told council that the municipality’s new land-management database is close to going live; when active, residents, contractors and business owners will be able to apply for permits and licenses and pay annual fees online. She concluded her update by wishing Bill Williams, the town’s parking enforcer, a happy retirement after nearly two decades.
Council member Bill Manley asked whether the contract terms had been previously agreed; Riviello confirmed they had. Manley also raised a separate issue about a garbage pickup schedule error; Riviello said the calendar contained an error and that DPW would have full manpower the next day to address the pickup problem.
The transcript records these administrative updates and clarifications but does not show a recorded council vote on the resolutions during the work session.
