Price increase stalls fire protection contract negotiations
(Frank Speziale Photo)
NORWICH – A proposed cost increase is the sticking point of back-and-forth negotiations for fire protection services between the City and Town of Norwich.
Representatives of the City and the Town of Norwich say they hope to strike a three to five year deal for fire protection soon, effectively ending a series of one-year contracts which have been renewed every year since 2017.
The hangup, they say, is the city’s suggested 4 percent cost increase in the contract to be spread over a three-year duration: 1.5 percent the first year, 1.5 percent the second year, and 1 percent the third year. But officials at the Town of Norwich are reluctant, arguing against any substantial increase to their current payment.
Talks of a five-year option are also being considered.
“Were hoping for a contract as soon as possible,” said Norwich Town Supervisor David Evans. “We’re still in negotiations; I feel that we’re very close, but we just want what’s best for the town taxpayers.”
The town footed a $653,000 bill for fire protection in 2018. It forked out the same in 2017, after a multi-year contract expired the year prior. But the town’s latest contract expired in January. Since then, the city’s provided fire services without payment.
Meanwhile, the Town of North Norwich, which also contracts with the city for fire protection, has paid an increase equivalent to the annual tax cap (roughly 2 percent) every year. That township agreed to a $136,000 contract for 2019.
“The bottom line is we haven’t had an increase (from the Town of Norwich) in two years when our costs continue to go up,” said City of Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino. “We would like to see an increase, but we’re still in the midst of negotiations ... I think they’re agreeable to an increase, but we’re unsure what it will be and the term of the contract.”
If administrators strike a deal, the town will be on the hook for a retroactive payment dating back to January, when the previous contract expired.
And if a contract isn’t signed? There would be no change in protection, said Papelino.
“We’re going to continue services as we always have,” he said. “But I think we’ll come to some terms with a contract.”
The 2018 fire protection agreement between the city and town wasn’t finalized until late summer last last year. The same happened in 2017. The city’s aiming to curb that trend with a multi-year contract.
“We’re trying to get back to a longer contract, more like a five-year contract, instead of the annual contract that gets negotiated and paid late in August,” said Norwich City Finance Director Deana DuFour. “That’s so we can avoid this issue.”
Town and city officials have said they want to finish negotiations before the end of summer.
Pictured: Negotiations are underway for the City of Norwich to continue fire protection services with the town. (Frank Speziale Photo)
Representatives of the City and the Town of Norwich say they hope to strike a three to five year deal for fire protection soon, effectively ending a series of one-year contracts which have been renewed every year since 2017.
The hangup, they say, is the city’s suggested 4 percent cost increase in the contract to be spread over a three-year duration: 1.5 percent the first year, 1.5 percent the second year, and 1 percent the third year. But officials at the Town of Norwich are reluctant, arguing against any substantial increase to their current payment.
Talks of a five-year option are also being considered.
“Were hoping for a contract as soon as possible,” said Norwich Town Supervisor David Evans. “We’re still in negotiations; I feel that we’re very close, but we just want what’s best for the town taxpayers.”
The town footed a $653,000 bill for fire protection in 2018. It forked out the same in 2017, after a multi-year contract expired the year prior. But the town’s latest contract expired in January. Since then, the city’s provided fire services without payment.
Meanwhile, the Town of North Norwich, which also contracts with the city for fire protection, has paid an increase equivalent to the annual tax cap (roughly 2 percent) every year. That township agreed to a $136,000 contract for 2019.
“The bottom line is we haven’t had an increase (from the Town of Norwich) in two years when our costs continue to go up,” said City of Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino. “We would like to see an increase, but we’re still in the midst of negotiations ... I think they’re agreeable to an increase, but we’re unsure what it will be and the term of the contract.”
If administrators strike a deal, the town will be on the hook for a retroactive payment dating back to January, when the previous contract expired.
And if a contract isn’t signed? There would be no change in protection, said Papelino.
“We’re going to continue services as we always have,” he said. “But I think we’ll come to some terms with a contract.”
The 2018 fire protection agreement between the city and town wasn’t finalized until late summer last last year. The same happened in 2017. The city’s aiming to curb that trend with a multi-year contract.
“We’re trying to get back to a longer contract, more like a five-year contract, instead of the annual contract that gets negotiated and paid late in August,” said Norwich City Finance Director Deana DuFour. “That’s so we can avoid this issue.”
Town and city officials have said they want to finish negotiations before the end of summer.
Pictured: Negotiations are underway for the City of Norwich to continue fire protection services with the town. (Frank Speziale Photo)
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