What it means: Similar to Article 14, this CBA allows for employee advancement by acquiring new skills that benefit the Town. The agreement covers 26 employees who work in Town Hall, as well as the civilian employees at the Police Department such as Police Dispatchers.
Those in favor say: Getting to competitive wages helps control costs, since the Town is not constantly having to go through repetitive hiring cycles. Increased costs for extensive (and sometimes unproductive) hiring efforts could be better invested elsewhere, and high turnover also hampers the ability to build cross-department rapport, which is critical for the smooth functioning of the Town.
Fiscal impact: If Article 15 is approved, a property valued at $400,000 would see a tax increase of $9.20 in 2024. Cost per thousand dollars of valuation is .023 cents in 2024.