FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio - After nearly a year of negotiations, Fairview Park City Council recently approved a three-year contract with 2-percent raises retroactive to January for policemen, fireman, municipal employees and non-collective bargaining employees.

"Every three years union negotiations for our three unions - the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1057 and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - take place," Fairview Park Mayor Eileen Ann Patton said.

"When the negotiated percentage of 2 percent was agreed upon by all three unions, this same percentage was carried over to the nonunion employees."

The Mayor said a 2-percent increase represents an additional $200,000 to the city' budget,

Fairview Park City Council President Michael Kilbane said the raises are in line with other similar-sized communities.

"Essentially we pay our workers in Fairview Park probably somewhere just above the average of the surrounding cities," Kilbane said. "I feel the city provides good services. Our service department, police and fire department are excellent."

Mayor Patton said healthcare was a key issue that protracted the negotiations.

"The city received a 24-percent increase in our healthcare premium from our provider, Cuyahoga County," Patton said. "We then sought other options to keep healthcare costs down.

"(When) The Summit County consortium offered a three-year contract and lower cost, the city then contracted with the new carrier. This took significant time. It also took two months for the fact-finder to return the service report."

While the fact-finder came back with 2-percent increases, Mayor Patton said the city couldn't afford to fund the Health Savings Account (HAS) at the recommended amount.

"The city wanted an opportunity to meet with the healthcare cost containment committee, whose members include union representatives and nonunion reps, to select healthcare plans that would be suitable for all our employees," Patton said.

"Overall, 75 percent of our employees have made a choice from the traditional healthcare plan to a health saving plan offered by the city. In doing so, our employees have become more cost-conscious in their selection of medical providers and services, resulting in savings to both the city and the employee."