By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — A four-year contract between the town and the local police union was approved Tuesday by the Representative Town Meeting.

The pact with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 045, is effective retroactively from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2025. It covers 55 police personnel from the rank of sergeant and below, said Chris Hodgson, a lawyer with the firm, Berchem, Moses, who handled negotiations for the town.

Hodgson said the negotiations went smoothly, and that the contract is fair.

“The chiefs felt it was very fair, in the best interest of the Police Department, given all the acts that police officers do,” he said. “They have an excellent relationship with the local officers and I think that helped a lot.”

Hodgson said he’s negotiated contracts for fire and police unions in New Canaan, Wilton and Weston, and terms of Westport’s new contract is within the range of those nearby towns.

“It’s under 3 percent, given inflation I think it’s a fair result, to lock something in like that for the four years,” Hodgson said.

The contract gives officers a 2.75 percent wage increase in years one and two, and 2.85 percent in years three and four.

RTM member Louis Mall, District 2, gave members a joint report from the Employee Compensation, Finance and Public Protection committees. All unanimously recommended the full RTM approve the plan.

Mall, citing the town finance director, said that with other changes, the agreement boils down to a $1.3 million increase in costs to the town over the life of the contract.

“I would like to thank the police union, Local 045, for bargaining in good faith to reach this agreement,” Mall concluded. 

The RTM voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Thane Grauel, the Westport Journal executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond more than three decades. Learn more about us here.