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Select Board approves multi‑year MOAs for fire and police and one‑year agreement for custodial staff
Summary
The Select Board approved memoranda of agreement covering FY27–29 for the Needham Fire Union and Needham Police Union (and police superior officers) with base wage increases and phased changes to sick‑leave buyback; a one‑year (FY27) 3% increase was approved for Building Custodian Trades to await broader compensation study results.
The Select Board on Tuesday approved several collective‑bargaining memoranda of agreement negotiated between town management and employee unions.
Key points: - Needham Fire Union (three‑year MOA, FY27–29): base wage increases of 2% each fiscal year, additional education/EMT/paramedic stipends, sunsetting of sick‑leave buyback for employees hired after the contract start, and formalization of a paramedic‑supervisor structure. The average three‑year cost for the contract was reported at 4.34%. - Needham Police Union (three‑year MOA, FY27–29): base increases of 2.5% in FY27 and 2% in FY28 and FY29, plus increases to specialty stipends and night shift differentials; phased sunsetting of sick‑leave buyback for future hires. Average three‑year cost ~4.04%. - Police superior officers (lieutenants) (three‑year MOA): similar percentage increases; their average three‑year cost was lower because incumbent officers were already at top step. - Building Custodian Trades (one‑year MOA for FY27): a 3% increase for custodial and trades staff, structured as a single‑year agreement to allow the pending town‑wide classification/compensation study to inform longer negotiations.
Town management described the contracts as balancing fiscal responsibility and the goal of retaining and supporting essential services — particularly municipal fire/EMS, which provides advanced life‑support service the town runs in house. Town staff also noted that these proposals will be presented to the Human Resources Advisory Committee and Finance Committee before Town Meeting funding votes.
Board members thanked bargaining teams and staff for the work and confirmed the MOAs will be presented at the upcoming Town Meeting warrant for funding.
What’s next: MOAs sent to Human Resources Advisory Committee and Finance Committee for the formal review and recommendations; funding articles will appear on the Town Meeting warrant.
