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Finance committee votes not to recommend funding $1M arbitration award for firefighters
Summary
After lengthy debate over fiscal risk and a compounding education stipend in the award, the finance committee voted to NOT recommend funding the JLMC interest arbitration award for the Bridgewater Firefighters Union, citing concerns about using stabilization funds and precedent-setting costs.
The finance committee voted to not recommend the town council appropriate funds to pay the recent JLMC interest arbitration award for the Bridgewater Firefighters Union.
Laurie read the arbitration award into the record and said the town is obligated to present a funding request within 30 days. Bill Wood, a former town councilor and long-time finance chair, urged caution: "It's very dangerous to take 1000000 dollars out of the stabilization account," he said, warning that tapping the fund at current levels risks future layoffs if the town faces a downturn. Several committee members expressed concern about a new compounding education stipend in the award that increases base pay and could drive higher future costs.
Paul Murphy moved that the finance committee not recommend funding the arbitration award; the committee and the finance committee both voted to send a 'not to recommend' message to the town council. Members asked staff to provide a detailed breakout of how much of the award is salary versus education and EMT stipends so the council can better understand recurring fiscal impacts if the award is funded. The vote does not nullify the arbitration award; it records committee opposition to funding and signals the council will need to decide how to appropriate funds or reopen negotiations.
