At the request of First Selectman Ken Flatto, the RTM approved new packages for Local 1426, International Association of Firefighters; Local Union 1303-366 of Council 4, AFSCME, AFL-CIO Fairfield Professional and Technical Employees Association; and the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local Union 1103.

Fairfield Fire Union

According to the resolution recommended by Flatto, the contract between the town and Local 1426 covers the period from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2010.

The total increase in cost of the contract is $909,306, according to a document provided Monday.

According to the negotiated agreement, the yearly contract amount will increase at an approximate rate of 3 percent per year. The overall increase consists of regular salary, overtime and benefits such as holidays.

The union contract represents all 94 uniformed and investigatory employees including two mechanics within the Fire Department, according to the town's director of human resources, Mary Carroll-Mirylees. The union contract does not include the department's chief or deputy chief, according to the contract.

The vote to approve the resolution passed with 42 members voting in favor. Wayne Parks, R-3; Francis Ference Jr., R-3; and Mary McCullough, R-3, abstained from the vote.

According to the town clerk's records, all RTM members were present during the meeting with the exception of Thomas Dubrosky, D-1; Nello Ceccarelli, D-5; Joseph Gall, D-5; Eric Johnson, R-9; and Nicholas Mirabile, R-9.

Following the RTM's approval, Fire Chief Richard Felner addressed the members to thank them for their support of the town's firefighters. "We're very fortunate here in Fairfield to have a police and fire department like we do, and we're appreciative of your support," Felner said. "If there's anything we can do for you we'll be there. You're there for us and we're there for you."

Fairfield Professional and Technical Employees Association

The contract negotiated between the town and Local Union 1303-366 of Council 4 covers the period from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2010.

The total increase in the cost of the contract is $461,012. According to the negotiated agreement, the yearly contract amount will increase at an approximate rate of 3 percent per year.

According to Carroll-Mirylees, the Professional and Technical Employees Association is composed of 45 town employees scattered throughout various town departments whose skills are professional and technical in nature. Some of these positions include the town's budget director, the deputy tax collector, animal control officers and the deputy town librarian, Carroll-Mirylees said.

The vote to approve the contract passed unanimously.

Communications Workers of America

The contract negotiated between the town and Local Union 1103 is retroactive to July 1, 2005, and ends June 30, 2008.

The total increase in the cost of the contract is $70,962.

According to the negotiated agreement, the yearly contract amount will increase at an approximate rate of 3 percent for the first two years and 2.75 percent in the third year. The overall increase consists of regular salary, overtime and benefits such as holidays.

According to Carroll-Mirylees, Local Union 1103 is composed of the 15 town employees working in the Emergency Communications Center housed in the Police Department.

According to the Police Department's Web site, the ECC is responsible for receiving all 911 emergency calls, as well as non-emergency police and fire calls. The telecommunicators are trained in emergency police and fire dispatching, emergency medical dispatching and the handling of routine calls for both police and fire departments.

The vote to approve the contract passed unanimously.