Norway police get raise, lose ground

NORWAY — After a lengthy round of negotiations with union representatives, the Norway board of selectmen has voted to approve a contract that will govern the wages of the Norway Police Department.

An entry-level officer position, which currently pays $14.63 per hour, will pay $15.45 per hour in 2012.

"It's difficult in that, on one hand, you'd like to keep pace with other communities, especially with the movement of officers between communities," said Holt, "but on the other hand, in light of tough times, you'd like to keep the taxpayers in mind."

Town officials said that the climate created by a particularly tough round of negotiations justified a quick approval.

"It's been a tough negotiation and tough to get something to vote on," said Holt. "It's better to vote now."

The selectboard took the unusual move of approving the contract before it had actually received a final draft of agreed-upon revisions, an act that Town Manager David Holt said was important to bring closure to the process.

"You don't want to have it hanging out there unapproved," said Holt.  He said that those who were opposed to the contract would take a lack of approval as an opportunity to discredit the contract. "Unapproved is not a good thing."

Selectman Russ Newcomb and Selectboard Chair Irene Millett expressed concern about not having a document in hand at the time of the vote, although the motion to approve eventually passed unanimously.

"The union has been nervous that the selectboard won't sign," said Holt, "and haven't come forth with the documents to get over this hurdle."

Holt noted that the union membership had approved the contract with a vote of its own.

"They voted," said Holt. "The union voted. In the team representative's eyes, as long as they voted in favor of it, they're happy."

Newcomb asked for clarification of the timeline of proposed pay increases.

"The holiday pay change would be effective on the signing?" he asked Holt.

"On agreement of signing, the holiday pay would go into effect," said Holt.

Under the new agreement, "All employees shall receive holiday pay at rate of one and one half times regular rate for hours actually worked."

Currently, says Holt, "the police officers often work 10-hour shifts but were receiving eight hours in holiday pay ... it will now be what the shift actually is."

"It was a tough year," said Holt. "Many communities signed their agreements ahead of Norway. We've lost some ground."

He noted that the new contract would make Norway less competitive with other towns than it has been in the past.

Newcomb said that the disparity is not a large one.

"We're still fairly competitive with neighboring towns," said Newcomb.

Officers Holli Pullen and Jeff Campbell will receive wage increases that are retroactive to August 1 of this year. Department employees will see a graded increase that will begin with 2 percent on January 1, 2011, which will step up to 3 percent by the first of July in 2012.

A detective position will increase from $20.67 to $21.83 per hour, while the position of secretary will increase from $13.75 to $14.51.