Select Board approves draft collective bargaining agreement; manager says he will not authorize vacation buyback

Readfield — The select board voted unanimously Jan. 12 to approve a draft collective bargaining agreement and to forward it to union members with minor edits, following detailed bargaining updates from town negotiators.

Town Manager Eric said the draft reflects concessions on both sides and incorporates a wage-scale adjustment based on a recent municipal wage study. "We're looking at about a 7½ percent increase in wages on average across the entire town," he said, explaining the change is intended to help recruit and retain staff.

A notable negotiated change gives the administration clearer authority to set unpaid lunch-break rules in some positions to address scheduling and coverage issues at the transfer station and in field work. Negotiators described the unpaid lunch-break provision as a compromise that adds administrative flexibility while preserving options for employees in certain circumstances.

The draft includes a provision for vacation buyback requested by the union; Eric said he opposed buyback during negotiations and said, "I will never do it," adding that the policy remains subject to the town manager's discretion in the draft language.

Board members said the agreement contained trade-offs and that the union offered concessions, including on lunch periods and some non-monetary items. The board approved the draft with minor edits and the employees are scheduled to review the proposal at a meeting shortly after the board session.

Next steps: the draft will be distributed to employees for review and finalization; the board did not adopt a final contract at the meeting.