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Council approves funding to implement arbitrator's award for firefighters after public testimony
Summary
After extended public comment from firefighters and residents and a detailed financial presentation, the Bridgewater Town Council voted 9-0 to fund the arbitration award for the Bridgewater firefighters, citing the arbitration process and the town's ability to pay; councilors asked finance follow-ups.
The Bridgewater Town Council voted unanimously to approve a transfer order to fund the arbitration award for the town's firefighters, concluding a lengthy public discussion and deliberation that included financial analyses presented by the union.
Firefighter Ryan Young, secretary of the union, told the council he had run conservative estimates of the arbitration's first-year cost and outlined options to fund the award, including drawing from the stabilization fund, certified free cash and an ambulance-receipts reserve. "Those are not large numbers, especially for a department as our size," Young said during public comment. Local 2611 President Jimmy Reedy told the council the union had followed the state's impartial procedures and urged the council to "honor the process."
Council debate touched on insurance splits, education stipend mechanics and long-term fiscal sustainability. Several councilors said they were persuaded by evidence that the award was the product of the state Joint Labor-Management Committee process and that not funding it would risk re-opening an expensive and divisive process. "This is an award from an impartial party and it needs to be funded," Councilor Kennedy said in remarks recorded in the hearing.
The council adopted the transfer by roll-call vote, 9 in favor and 0 opposed. The motion to approve the funding was recorded as approving order OFY27011; the council asked town finance staff to provide follow-up details on which reserves and line items will be used and to show a forecast for FY28 implications. The council also directed staff to provide the finance committee with the documentation referenced by union witnesses so members can review ongoing affordability and staffing projections.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from council meeting testimony and presentation: Ryan Young (firefighter, union secretary), Jimmy Reedy (president, Local 2611) and Councilor Kennedy. The council recorded the vote and instructed staff to return with budget implementation steps.
