New Union Contracts Save Millions
The Barrington Town Council ratifies new 3-year contracts for police officers, firefighters and dispatchers without an OPEB -- medical insurance after retirement.
The Barrington Town Council ratified three union contracts on Monday evening, Oct. 1, that will save taxpayers millions of dollars down the road. The votes were all unanimous, 5-0. The millions of dollars in future savings will come in a “give back” by the police and fire departments of “other post-employee benefits” (OPEB) -- medical insurance after retirement, in Barrington’s case -- for new officers, firefighters and dispatchers. “That liability was in the same breath as pension reform,” said Town Manager Peter DeAngelis Jr., who negotiated the new contracts. “We stopped the liability for all new employees.” OPEBs will continue to place unsustainable fiscal demand on communities, DeAngelis said. “It’s a good deal for the taxpayers,” he …
