The Amherst Finance Committee on Nov. 3 voted to send a block of salary-and-benefits ordinances to the full City Council and to table several collective bargaining agreements for later consideration.

The committee advanced ordinances that apply a general pay schedule of 3.5% in 2026, then 3% in 2027 and 2028 and that apply to elected positions (auditor, treasurer) and multiple departmental supervisors and non‑bargaining staff. Committee members also approved a new longevity calculation that begins at 8¢ per hour after five years of service and increases with future pay raises, upgraded city dental coverage to the highest tier offered in the municipal plan, and raised travel/meal stipends for employees.

Why it matters: Those changes, if adopted by the full council, will standardize compensation and benefits across many city employees, simplify payroll administration and modestly increase some near‑term labor costs. Committee discussion showed attention to implementation details — how longevity will be applied, who pays COBRA shares for new hires and how overtime and comp time are tracked.

What the committee did: The committee recorded unanimous votes to move the majority of ordinances to the council floor. Separately, the committee moved to kill one standalone IT department ordinance (25‑37) after the mayor said IT positions would be folded into the non‑bargaining ordinance. Several union or department bargaining items were tabled because final contract language was not yet available; one duplicate part‑time dispatchers ordinance (82553) was killed as a duplicate.

Details and points raised by council members:
- Pay schedule and elected offices: For elected four‑year positions (auditor, treasurer), the mayor proposed the 3.5%/3%/3% schedule with the fourth year calculated as the average of bargaining groups; the committee forwarded that ordinance to council by voice vote.
- Longevity: The mayor described a new longevity structure that converts the varied previous longevity payments to an hourly longevity addition (8¢/hour after five years, increasing proportionally with annual raises). As an example he said a 20‑year employee would receive about $1.60 an hour from longevity under the new formula.
- Benefits alignment and payroll simplicity: The mayor said moving IT manager and IT technician positions into the non‑bargaining ordinance will align benefits and simplify auditing and payroll. Several ordinances reflected the same changes for dental coverage (upgraded to level 4), legal services added to benefit packages, and a shift from a 60‑day sick‑time retirement buyout to 90 days in some groups.
- Overtime, comp time and “pyramiding”: Council asked for a written overtime report for the affected positions. The committee clarified that “pyramiding” — duplicating overtime premiums for the same hours — is generally prohibited under federal law (Fair Labor Standards Act). The payroll system will track comp time, staff said.
- COBRA cost sharing for new hires: Ordinances state new hires will contribute 15% of COBRA rates while existing employees contribute 12%; the mayor said that is an expected distinction between incumbent and newly hired employees.

Votes at a glance (committee actions recorded Nov. 3, 2025):
- Excuse absence of Mr. Jeffries (letter on file): passed 7–0 (motion to excuse).
- Ordinance 25‑36 (auditor salary 2026–2029): motion to take to council floor with emergency passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑37 (IT department pay schedule): motion to kill passed 7–0 (mayor stated IT positions will be added to non‑bargaining ordinance instead).
- Ordinance 25‑38 (non‑bargaining full‑time employees): motion to take to council floor with emergency passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑39 (office on aging): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑40 (permanent part‑time payroll clerk / budget assistant): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑41 (utilities supervisors and related positions): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑42 (treasurer salary 2026–2029): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑43 (permanent part‑time tax assistant I): committee amended item so its holidays match the permanent part‑time payroll clerk; motion to take as amended to council passed.
- Ordinance 25‑44 (fire chief): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑45 (police chief and lieutenant): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑46 (full‑time civilian police administrator): motion to take to council floor passed 7–0.
- Ordinance 25‑47 (AFSCME collective bargaining agreement 2026–2028): motion to table (union final copy not available) — tabled 7–0.
- Ordinances 25‑48 through 25‑52 and 25‑54: motions to table were passed 7–0 (committee deferred several department/union items).
- Ordinance 25‑53 (duplicate part‑time dispatchers item): motion to kill passed 7–0.

What’s next: Items the committee advanced will appear on the full City Council agenda for final readings and votes. The tabled collective bargaining agreements and departmental ordinances will return to a future committee meeting when final contract language or corrections are available.

Attribution and sources: Committee discussion and motions recorded in the Nov. 3, 2025 Amherst Finance Committee transcript; direct procedural language (motions, votes, ordinance numbers) is cited from committee remarks during the meeting.

Ending note: Committee members asked staff to provide clarifying information before matters return to committee — specifically an overtime cost report for affected positions, confirmation of holiday lists and funeral/bereavement language corrections, and a check that specified donations of leave and military‑leave language are included where intended.