Across-The-Board Pay Hikes OK'd For Non-Union Enfield Employees

ENFIELD, CT — Non-union town employees will soon be getting a pay raise after the Enfield Town Council last week said "yes" to 3 percent pay hikes.

The unanimous, 10-0 vote Oct. 6 was for "cost of living adjustment (COLA)" pay increases and not based on merit, according to council members and town officials at the meeting.

In total, the resolution impacts about 163 full- and part-time employees, with $155,517 earmarked for full-time worker pay hikes and $36,700 for part-time workers.

The pay increases will be retroactive to July 1, 2025, which was the start of the current fiscal year.

Enfield Assistant Town Manager Steve Bielenda presented the resolution to the full council.

During his presentation, he explained the difference between merit raises and COLA raises.

He said the "philosophy of performance reviews is to address employees and situations when the need arises and not wait a year."

According to Bielenda, in the past, "there have been situations where merit-based increases as well as cost-of-living increases have been given, but this has not occurred in many years."

While he ultimately supported the resolution, Councilor Michael Ludwick touted his support for merit raises instead of just blanket, across-the-board pay hikes.

Ludwick said, "Going forward, they should make raises based on performance and not a blanket increase across the board, because not everyone deserves an increase if they are not performing at a higher level."

But Bielenda pointed out the town is looking away from merit raises and, instead, focusing on COLA pay hikes.

He said merit-based pay might prompt non-union workers to seek union roles elsewhere for the pay and benefits they may receive.

Bielenda said the town wants to "keep the benefits as parallel as possible" so as to allow the town to better compete and retain staff.

For the minutes of the Oct. 6 Enfield Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For the full resolution on the pay raises for non-union workers, click on this link.