The Seabrook Board of Selectmen and the Professional Firefighters have reached a collective bargaining agreement that covers one year. The contract contains no wage, or non wage, increase in benefits for the duration of FY 2019. The financial analysis required by law is contained in the below warrant article, which shows the tax impact in FY2019 as zero. The contract, in FY 2020, grants increases in the area of longevity and educational stipends. These adjustments are part of the Board’s policy to create incentives for professional development, as well as for professional longevity in Seabrook. The required financial analysis for FY 2020 is in the below warrant article. Thanks to the Seabrook Firefighters for all of their hard work on this contract.

ARTICLE 11
To see if the Town will vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Board of Selectmen and the Seabrook Professional Firefighters Association for the period April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; and furthermore to raise and appropriate the sum of Zero Dollars ($0) for fiscal year 2019, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels. The increases in salaries and benefits for fiscal year 2020 would be $118,196. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen) (Recommended by the Budget Committee) (Estimated $0 impact per $1,000 on the tax rate).

The Newburyport News story on the collective bargaining agreement.