After working for over a year without a contract, Robbinsville and the firefighter’s union have approved a new five year contract which will go into effect on August 4th. The new contract brings back the 24 hours “on” and 72 hours “off” work schedule in addition to longevity raises. As tax saving measures, firefighters will now contribute 1% of their salary toward health care beginning in 2010 and new firefighters will not be eligible for post-retirement health care benefits. The town council is expected to pass the contract at their August 14 meeting because two council members are out of town this week.

“When the Township assumed control of the Fire District in January 2007, firefighters received a 10 percent pay raise to compensate them for the increase in hours from a 24/72 schedule to one of 24 hours on, 48 hours off.  (Firefighters automatically earned 3 hours at an overtime rate under this schedule, under federal labor rules.)

Under the new contract and schedule, the base salary will remain in effect through the end of 2008, while the automatic overtime ceases. Firefighters will receive a 2 percent raise in 2009, and 3.5 percent raises in 2010 and 2011. Starting in 2010, firefighters will contribute 1 percent of salary toward their health care costs.

The contract includes certain longevity provisions that existed under the former Fire District, but also contains new overtime control measures. For example, a firefighter who calls out sick cannot have that shift count toward overtime during that pay period.”

Robbinsville and Hamilton townships scored a victory against a proposed increase in water rates by Aqua New Jersey Friday when a settlement was reached that will allow the water company to only increase rates by 16.4% versus the original plan’s proposed 28%. Under the original rate increase proposal, the average consumer’s bill would have increased from a yearly $394 to $519, however under the new terms the exact rate was not established.

Robbinsville used a $7500 “contribution” from Matrix Development Corp to hire a lawyer to battle the water company. Matrix Development is the owner of several large warehouses in Robbinsville near the Turnpike, and has a large sprinkler system which would have been greatly impacted by any rate increases.

The settlement also eliminated a proposed distribution system improvement charge that would have permitted the water company to increase rates by up to 5% without having to first get state approval. The offical approval for the rate change was supposed to go before the NJ Board of Public Utilities yesterday.

Source: nj.com

Since Robbinsville doesn’t yet have its own fireworks display for the fourth of July, here’s a list of all the local Independence Day celebrations and a schedule of fireworks shows. Have a safe holiday!

Ewing - July 3 @ 7 p.m.
Armstrong Park: Concert and Fireworks

Ewing - July 4 @ 10 a.m.
Moody Park: Parade (runs from Moody Park to Parkway Ave.)

Hamilton - July 3 @ 7 p.m.
Veterans Park: Musical Performance by the “Fabulous Greaseband” and Fireworks

Trenton - July 3 @ 7:05 p.m.
Waterfront Park: Trenton Thunder vs. Portland Seadogs with Post-Game Fireworks and Auction (for more information, go to trentonthunder.com. Tickets start at $6.)

Princeton - July 4 @ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Morven Museum and Garden: Exhibition (for more information, go to revolutionaryprinceton.org or historicmorven.org)

Lawrence - July 4 @ 7 p.m.
Rider University: Concert and Fireworks

Mercer County - July 5 @ 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Mercer County Park: 5th Annual Mercer County Freedom Festival, with performances by The Nerds, The Fabulous Soul Cruisers, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and The Dawgs
http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/commissions/pdfs/park_freedomfest.pdf