East Lyme police union OKs 3-year contract with raises

East Lyme - The East Lyme police union has ratified a three-year contract that gives officers 1.25 percent raises every six months, according to First Selectman Paul Formica.

The new contract runs through June 30, 2014, and is retroactive to July 1, 2011. Formica said breaking up the annual wage increases into six-month increments "helps the town with its cash flow."

"At the end of the year, they've achieved the desired wage increase," he said.

The contract covers the 21 officers in the East Lyme Police Department, which operates under the resident state trooper program. The trooper, Sgt. Wilfred J. Blanchette III, is not part of the local police union.

Officers' share of health insurance premiums and co-payments for doctor and hospital visits will increase, Formica said. Office visit co-pays will increase to $20 in the first year and to $25 in the second year, for instance.

The contract also introduces health savings accounts for high-deductible plans, which have, since being introduced to town employees, helped hold the line on health insurance costs, Formica said.

"We've been able to hold our health insurance premium increases to zero, or flat, for the last three years," he said.

As an incentive for officers to switch over to the high-deductible plan, the town is assuming 87.5 percent of health savings account deductibles for 2011-12 and 2012-13, Formica said. In 2013-14, the town will pay 65 percent of the deductible, he said.

Meanwhile, no changes were made to the number of vacation, personal and sick days officers get, Formica said.

"We had a good relationship in negotiations with the union, and I'm pleased with the outcome," Formica said.

Sgt. Paul Renshaw, the union's president, could not be reached for comment.

j.cho@theday.com