A new contract with Salisbury Township Public Works Department employees calls for wage hikes ranging from 2.75 percent to 3.25 percent over four years.

Salisbury commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent at the Sept. 25 meeting, to approve the contract with 22 non-uniformed employees who belong to the Public Works Department Employee Association.

The association has informally approved the contract, which must still be signed. The contract is to go into effect Jan. 1, 2015.

The 10-person township clerical staff will share the same contract benefits.

Commissioners met in executive session after the Sept. 11 meeting to discuss the contract with an association representative and Atty. John W. Ashley, township solicitor.

The contract authorizes wage hikes of: 2.75 percent for 2015, 2.75 percent for 2016, 3 percent for 2017 and 3.25 percent for 2018.

The salary range is $20.78 per hour for a starting salary, or step one, in the first year of the contract, to $26.83 per hour for step 7, in the contract's final year.

Township Manager Randy Soriano outlined other details of the pact for commissioners prior to the Sept. 25 vote.

"I think they're fair," Soriano said of the pay hikes. "We bargained in good faith. Each side made some progress."

Soriano did not have a cost estimate for the new contract.

One new aspect of the contract is the A, B and C equipment operator descriptions have been eliminated. Pay will be according to "steps."

"Everyone is expected to do all the duties of the department," Soriano said.

The pay of the mechanic A job category received a one-time increase of 60 cents per hour because it was not increased in the previous contract, according to Soriano. The same annual percentage increases apply to this job.

The designation of custodian is now a stand-alone as laborer, also subject to the contract increases, with work hours 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 30-minute paid lunch.

"The employee may choose to work through [the lunch], but will not be paid extra," Soriano said.

There are supervisor positions, but only Salisbury Township Director of Public Works John Andreas can make assignments.

Sick leave has been reduced from 45 to 30 days.

The rate for on-call weekend and holidays work will be three times the pay rate. It had been twice the pay rate.

Funeral leave now includes services for a parent, parent-in-law, sister and brother.

Employee health care contributions are: $17.50, single; $35, family, for 2015; $21, single; $42, family, for 2016; $25, single; $50, family, for 2017 and $30, single; $60, family, for 2018.

"That was pretty much a stumbling block," Soriano said of the health-care contributions discussions during contract negotiations.

"I think it's fair, considering the health care coverage," Township Commissioner Vice Chairman Debra Brinton said, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Commissioner President James A. Brown.

Pension policy remains the same. "This [pension plan] really wasn't anything to negotiate," Soriano said, noting it is covered by a federal govern- ment mandate.

The public works department employee clothing stipend is: $200, for 2015; $225, for 2016; $250, for 2017 and $250, for 2018.

"Other sections remain as is," Soriano said who shared copies of the contract with commissioners.