Unanimous approval for terms covering period through 2023; 2% raises per year, $512,160 for retroactive pay approved
The wait has been lengthy, but the city of Malden’s 108 full-time firefighters finally have a new contract.
The Malden City Council unanimously approved a new, four-year contract for the members of Malden Firefighters Union Local 902, which will represent a 7.3% overall increase in base pay.
The percentage is spread over the four years of the agreement with 1% the first year, 3% increase for FY21, 2% for FY22 and 1.3% for FY23.
The Malden firefighters have been without a contract since the 2019-20 period, or, FY20. The contract continues through 2022-23, or, FY23.
In the final year of the contract just approved, the base pay for firefighters will be $65,783 first-year base pay per year. Lieutenant’s base annual pay in final year of the contract will be $76,966 base. Captains will make $87,741 first year base pay, Deputy Chiefs, $98,209 in first-year base and Assistant Chief $100,631.
Ward 5 Councillor Barbara Murphy of the Ordinance Committee introduced the final enrollment vote, urging passage to ensure the contract would immediately go into effect.
Additionally, the Council unanimously approved funding of $512,160 to fund retroactive pay for the firefighters over the course of the first year and half of the new contract. The 108 firefighters covered will receive an average payout of $4,742 for the retroactive compensation.
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City Council approves appointments to boards and commissions
The Malden City Council approved a number of appointments to boards and commissions at its last meeting.
Mary Hampton, 29 Beachview Terrace, Malden, was approved as a member of the Historical Commission, term to expire in 2024.
Eric Rubin, of Stoneham, was reappointed as Director of Public Facilities, term to expire December 31, 2024.
Paul Buckley, 115 Emerald Street, Malden, was reappointed as a member of the Conservation Commission, term to expire on December 31, 2023.
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New Racial Equity Commission will use outside consultant, choose chairperson from its own members
Some of the tenets added to the vote by the Malden City Council to hire an outside consultant to work with those forming and ultimately appointed to the soon-to-be-established Racial Equity Commission in developing directives and a direction.
Another tenet/amendment, proposed and then voted to the resolve offered by Councillor-at-Large Stephen Winslow, was that the chairperson of the new commission would not be city Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Bybiose Larochelle, but instead be chosen from among the appointed members.
Larochelle would still maintain a major role in assisting with the new commission.