Finance panel backs new police union contracts

Finance Committee · Meeting of October 26, 2026

WAREHAM — The Wareham Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend new three-year contracts for the police sergeants' and lieutenants' unions ahead of Fall Town Meeting. The town administrator told the committee the agreements, running through June 30, 2029, are already funded through certified free cash and include 2 percent annual cost-of-living raises plus additional raises tied to the state's new POST Commission certification system. He estimated a new 20-year longevity stipend would cost just over $47,000 for sergeants and just under $21,000 for lieutenants in the first year.

The lieutenants' contract folds roughly $5,600 in overtime and on-call pay into base salaries rather than expanding overtime eligibility for the FLSA-exempt position. "We're in inflationary environments and such, but we also have to live within our own means," a member said. Members also discussed how to present recommendations on warrant articles at the upcoming town meeting.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Roll Call
• Article 7: Union Contracts for Police Sergeants and Lieutenants
• Several contract provisions were outlined in detail
• Town Meeting Logistics and Member Roles
• Other Business
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,644 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.