Council Roundup: New Union Contract Approved

With a 5-0 vote on Tuesday night, the Narragansett Town Council approved a new three-year contract with Local 1179 of Rhode Island Council 94 that calls for small cost of living pay increases, but increased health insurance co-pay.

The contract was approved with no discussion in public amongst councilors. Nobody attending the meeting commented on the contract either.

For a copy of the contract, see the attached PDF, which was downloaded from ClerkBase.

According to the contract, the term covered is July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014. Union members will receive small cost of living pay increases of 1.5 percent, 2 percent and 2 percent for each year.

However, this is balanced by a 20 percent co-pay for health and dental insurance. Also, employees will increase their contribution to the town’s pension plan from 9 percent in the first year of the contract to 11 percent in the final year.

According to the fiscal analysis statement, the total cost to the town will be an additional $34,806 for the entire length of the contract. According to the Council 94 website, Local 1179 consists of Narragansett town employees, with Kelly Fleisa, the town’s wastewater clerk, serving as president.

In other business:

• The council tabled a proposal to fund a clerk’s position to be shared between the Community Development and Building Inspection offices. Town Manager Grady Miller said some more work needed to be done on the proposal by staff.
• By a 5-0 vote, the council approved a request from the Bonnet Shore Fire District to make the intersection of Colonel John Gardner Road and Bonnet Point Road a three-way stop.
• The council authorized a request from the school district to use the district’s budget money to purchase new computers for Narragansett Elementary School. According to Town Solicitor Mark McSally, for larger purchasing contracts the school district has to ask the council for permission to use tax-exempt status, per the town charter.