FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- City Council is expected to soon approve a three-year contract that includes 2.5 percent annual raises with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1057.

Council President Michael Kilbane called the new deal, which was negotiated by former mayor Eileen Ann Patton and Law Director Joseph Gibbons, a standard contract for 2020, 2021 and 2022, with the raises representing cost-of-living increases.

“I’m OK with the increases, because if you want to keep good people employed with the city, you have to pay them properly,” Kilbane said. “So I think it’s fair. We have a great fire department; they do a great job. I think everybody is happy with the contract.”

Finance Director Greg Cingle said a 2.5 percent increase represents an additional $42,200 to the city’s budget.

As for the healthcare portion of the new agreement, which is through Summit County, Cingle said the premiums went up 5 percent for both the city and the union.

“In the contract, there is a provision that if healthcare costs would increase by 5 percent or more upon the renewal years 2021 and 2022, the contract will be reopened for healthcare discussions only,” Cingle said. “That’s to protect the community from, say, a 15 or 20 percent increase in healthcare premiums.”

The previous three-year contract with the firefighter union, as well as with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, included 2 percent raises annually.

“My understanding is the city looked at some comparables from other communities and, quite frankly, 2.5 percent was a fairly consistent number,” Cingle said. “That’s where they started negotiations.”

Looking ahead, the city is expected to soon agree to a three-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association deal coming in the spring.

“Their current contracts have also ended, so anything done will be retroactive to the first of the year,” Kilbane said. “I expect (the remaining contracts) to be finalized in 2020.

“Obviously, we try hard to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ dollars while also trying to retain the talented individuals we have working for the city of Fairview Park. It’s a balance.”

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