The Avalon City Council this week voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 2295.
The memorandum of understanding (contract) covers the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.
“We did increase their uniform allowance by $500,” said City Manager David Maistros.
“That has not been increased in the last several years,” Maistros said.
The city also agreed to increase their mobile device stipend to $50 per pay period.
Maistros said the overtime language was clarified to make it 106 hours over a 14-day period.
He said vacation was eliminated from hours worked for the purpose of calculating overtime.
“That definitely helps us control the budget for the Fire Department,” Maistros said.
He said the agreement decreases the vacation time cap from 960 hours to 720.
“In addition we had the same health care plan offers that were previously offered to the other departments or the other groups because we do have parity in that regard,” Maistros said.
Background
“Negotiations between the City and all labor associations/unions began in June 2025. Negotiations were delayed, in part due to the release of the final Compensation Study from Public Sector Personnel Consultants. The final draft of the Compensation Study was received and distributed to City Staff and association/union representatives on June 3, 2025,” Maistros wrote in his staff report to the council.
According to Maistros report, the memorandum of understanding modified the travel allowance from reimbursement for up to two commuter books annually to a one-time $600 disbursement.
The agreement also incorporated a 2.5% cost of living allowance to wage schedules.
