Southington OKs New Contract With Police Dispatchers

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Town Council has unanimously approved a four-year contract with the town's police dispatchers after the employees had worked without an agreement since July 2025.

The council approved the agreement at its last meeting Aug. 10 following a motion by Councilman Tony Morrison, seconded by Councilman David Zoni. The measure passed unanimously by roll call vote.

Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone said negotiations had approached the point of going to the state before the two sides reached a last-minute agreement.

He credited the town's finance director and police chief with helping secure the deal.

The contract covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.

Dispatchers receive no general wage increase for 2025-26, followed by 2.5% increases in each of the remaining three years.

The full-time hourly rate rises from $34.25 in 2025-26 to $35.11 in 2026-27, $35.98 in 2027-28, and $36.88 in 2028-29.

Substitute and part-time dispatchers will continue to earn $29.09 per hour for the life of the agreement.

One of the contract's most significant changes involves health insurance.

The town's 12 dispatchers and their covered family members will leave Southington's self-insurance pool and move to the Teamsters Local 443 health plan.

Ricciardone told the council the change is expected to save the town several hundred thousand dollars over the four-year agreement.

Under the agreement, beginning one month after ratification, the town will contribute $10.25 for each paid hour to the Teamsters health plan, up to $410 per week for an employee.

The town will pay 99% of that contribution and employees 1%.

The contribution increases to $10.50 per hour in July 2027 and $10.75 in July 2028.

The contract generally maintains eight-hour shifts on a four-days-on, two-days-off cycle. Dispatchers with at least one year of full-time service can bid for shifts based on seniority, with shift bidding occurring twice a year.

Full-time dispatchers will also receive 13 paid holidays annually.

Employees working one of those holidays receive holiday pay plus time-and-a-half, subject to provisions in the agreement.

The contract continues pension coverage for dispatchers through the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System Fund B, with employee pension contributions made on a pre-tax basis.

For the minutes of the Aug. 10 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For the full police dispatcher contract, click on this link.