Firefighter Raises Approved By Newport City Council

NEWPORT, RI — The city council Wednesday night unanimously approved new labor contracts that will give all city firefighters a two percent raise.

Under the new agreement firefighters with at least four years of experience can earn $67,466, lieutenants $72,917, captains $80,340, and deputy chief $89,160. The overall cost over the three-year contract is $904,488, documents prepared by the finance department said. Increases are retroactive to July 1.

Any added costs from the raises are expected to be balanced out by other contract savings, City Solicitor Christopher Behan said. Councilwoman Kathryn Leonard was concerned about additional costs, but Behan explained the costs breakdown to her and the rest of the city council.

One savings example highlighted by Behan was the adding of a new medical services training officer at the deputy chief of pay. Although the pay for that position is $123,000 annually, Behan said Newport will save about $48,000 per year in overtime costs. Another $18,000 in EMS training will also be cut from the city's budget.

The new contracts eliminates the current administrative fire captain position. The current administrative captain is retiring, so the department will not rehire for the position. According to the finance department, eliminating the position will save the city $115,000. A civilian account clerk will be hired instead at $60,000.

“I don’t want to force the administrative fire captain out, but he is expected to retire within the year,” Behan told Newport Daily News.

Photo by Margo Sullivan