West Hartford firefighters will receive a new four-year wage agreement aimed at modernizing pay, addressing rising call volume, and recognizing the growing demands on the department.

The West Hartford Town Council, at its meeting Wednesday, Aug. 12, approved a new four-year contract for firefighters, retroactive to July 1, 2025, which provides an average annual wage increase of 1.83% over the life of the agreement, following internal negotiations aimed at modernizing compensation and addressing workload concerns within the fire department.

The vote was 8-0, with Council member Jason Wang abstaining.

One of the agreement’s major changes is an “inventive” approach to retirement benefits, particularly for firefighters hired after the department’s 2014 paramedic program began, Chief Greg Priest said. The change reflects the increased workload faced by paramedics, he said.

The negotiations also addressed call concurrency, or CAD, in which employees and the system handle multiple calls at the same time in different areas. Priest said the increased concurrency puts stress on both the emergency response system and employees and can lead to longer response times.

The department’s call volume has increased significantly since 2016, from approximately 3,000 calls a year to about 10,000.

“The fire department has responded to our growing community,” Mayor Shari Cantor said.

Priest also emphasized the value of the work firefighters and paramedics provide.

“I know people don’t go to bed fearing fire or medicals,” Priest said. “But at the end of the day, when you need us … how do you assign value to things like that?”

Priest also highlighted the department’s community outreach efforts, using a photo in his presentation as an analogy for how firefighters interact with residents.

“Members of the bargaining unit leadership, town leadership, public safety folks, the kids of the community and the adults in our community all coming together to be able to influence an outcome in somebody who had a really bad day at their house,” Priest said.

The previous contract covered the 2022-2025 period and included a three-year agreement with wage increases of 1%, 1.5% and 2%.

Josephine Agnello-Veley, the town’s director of human resources, compared West Hartford firefighter wages with those in other municipalities across Connecticut. She said West Hartford remains in a similar range to comparable communities, including New Britain.

The fire department and town negotiated the agreement internally, with Priest saying firefighters reached the deal without going to arbitration.

Several council members praised the negotiations and the ability of both sides to reach an agreement.

“A really sensible negotiation,” Cantor said.

Council addresses sustainability, public health, food assistance and roadway safety initiatives.

On Wednesday Council also discussed a part-time recycling coordinator position paying $45 to $55 an hour. The position is expected to involve roughly 900 hours a year, or 20 to 25 hours a week. The goal is to strengthen West Hartford’s sustainability efforts through innovation, education and partnerships with state and regional organizations.

The Council also accepted a $9,600 grant from Amplify Inc. to support an underage nicotine prevention program. The program will focus on increasing awareness of the risks associated with nicotine use through schools and youth groups.

“I’m very struck by how insidious some of these marketing programs are and the way some of these companies try to deliver nicotine to kids, youth and young adults,” Minority Leader John Lyons said. “I’m personally grateful that we’re voting to receive this grant.”

The council accepted a $15,343 grant from United Way of Connecticut to support emergency food assistance. The money will be used to purchase nutritious food for the West Hartford Food Pantry, with an emphasis on nonperishable items because the pantry does not have refrigeration.

West Hartford will hold its second annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 23 at Blue Back Square from 1 to 4 p.m.

The town also provided an update on its Vision Zero roadway safety initiative. Officials said 96 roadway safety projects were completed this summer, with 114 additional projects underway. Projects include curb extensions, raised crosswalks and illuminated “No Turn on Red” signage. Speed limits also have been reduced on 12 streets in the Smith School neighborhood.