The Town of Highlands Highway Department employees started the year 2025 with a new three-year contract in place, thanks to a last-minute signing of the new deal on New Year’s Eve.

At a brief Town Board meeting on December 30, the board members unanimously agreed to allow Supervisor Bob Livsey to sign the deal, then the next morning, Livsey, Deputy Supervisor Rich Sullivan and Councilman Joe DeWitt met with Union President Ryan Falk and Vice President Tim McCabe to witness them sign the document. Sullivan and DeWitt were the contract negotiators for the town, while Falk and McCabe negotiated for the workers.

The old contract expired at midnight on December 31, 2024.

The new contract runs through December 31, 2027. It provides employees with a 2.5 percent pay increase for 2025, a 3.25 percent increase in 2026 and a 2.5 percent increase in 2027. In addition, heavy equipment operators and drivers will immediately receive a $1 per hour increase in their salaries.

Sullivan, at the board’s meeting, said the new collective bargaining agreement is “competitive with other area municipalities”. He explained that in addition to setting salary increases, the new agreement had several other minor adjustments, as well as clarifying several matters.

For instance, winter standby pay – in the case of snow or other inclement weather predicted over a weekend, two employees (on a rotating basis) are deemed as ‘stand-by’, to stay in town in case the roads need treated – increases from $200 to $225.

Holidays are designated as 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. for pay reasons, and holiday overtime pay remains at 1.5 times regular play plus eight hours of holiday pay.

In the new deal, bereavement leave – five consecutive days – can be used within four months of a death.

Regarding commercial drivers’ licenses, employees have one year to obtain, with more time allowed if there is an extenuating circumstance, as deemed by the highway superintendent. Also pertaining to drivers’ licenses, employees who receive traffic violations need to let their supervisor know immediately.

The town’s other bargaining unit, the Town of Highlands Police Department Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, is in negotiations currently, with their contract expiring at the end of 2025. Negotiating that on behalf of the town are Council members Tyrone King and Nancy Sporbert.