Houlton OKs pacts for EMTs, firefighters

HOULTON – Although not all of them were comfortable with the move, town councilors earlier this week ratified union contracts for the municipality’s emergency medical technicians and firefighters/drivers.

The contracts save the town more than $56,000 over three years, savings that Town Manager Douglas Hazlett said during the council meeting were primarily driven by changes in health insurance.

Negotiations had been under way since May. The town has now reached agreements with four of its five departments.

Under the terms of the agreement, each department will change to lower-cost health plans and contribute more toward health care costs. Employees in each sector also will see a 3 percent raise in each of the next three years.

Councilors received a summary of the agreements prior to the meeting but not the actual contracts. That vexed Councilors Phil Bernaiche and Carl Lord.

“I feel that we should have the complete contract before us so that we can analyze it,” Bernaiche said. “This should be tabled until the contract is before us.”

Lord agreed, and explained after the meeting that he had gone to the town office prior to Monday evening’s meeting to peruse both contracts in their entirety. Since the town attorney was reviewing them, Lord said that he was not able to see the documents.

There was some concern that the move might affect the new health plan, and Councilor Paul Romanelli admitted he was concerned about any delay.

But he said he would stand by Bernaiche and Lord if they wanted to table the matter.

The group eventually tied 3-3 over the decision, which was broken when Council Chairman Gerald Adams voted to ratify the contracts.