WATERVILLE — The City Council is scheduled Tuesday to consider approving union contracts for police patrol and commanding officers.

The meeting, which is to begin with an executive session to consult with legal counsel, is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex at 46 Front St.

If approved, the proposed collective bargaining agreement between the city and Fraternal Order of Police for patrol officers would be effective from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027. Wages and recruitment were two key points in developing the contracts, according to Bobbie-Jo Green, the city’s human resource officer.

Two major changes to the proposed contract include a 4% increase in wages in 2024 and 2025 and a 5% increase beginning July 1, 2026.

Officials reviewed wages from neighboring communities and comparably sized departments to determine wage increases, Green wrote in a memorandum to the mayor and City Council. She said that along with wages and vacation benefits, educational stipends would be available for use in lateral entry agreements. The stipends are beneficial in recruiting employees to the Police Department, according to Green.

Along with Green, the city’s bargaining unit included City Manager Bryan Kaenrath, police Chief William Bonney, police Maj. Joshua Woods and former Assistant City Manager William Post. Green said all members agreed the contract is solid and will provide competitive wages and benefits to recruit qualified applicants. The bargaining unit recommends the City Council approve the contract.

The contract for commanding officers also is for a three-year term, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. The proposal calls for a 4% wage increase this year and next year and a 5% increase in 2026. The reasons for the increase are the same as for the patrol officers, according to Green.

In other matters Tuesday, the City Council is slated to consider approving a resolution to authorize Kaenrath to sign an agreement with resident Leo St. Peter and Novel Energy to allow them to cross city property to conduct a wetland study on property where St. Peter wants to build a solar farm.

The council approved rezoning April 16 for St. Peter’s property at 99 Webb Road for the solar farm, which is north of the Central Maine Power Co. easement on the land. To allow for the solar farm, St. Peter requests access to the city-owned parcel that is next to his land, according to a memorandum from Kaenrath to the mayor and council.

That land connects to Airport Road, but is within a wetland zone, so a wetland study is needed. Novel is expected to conduct the study to determine if an access road can be developed. Kaenrath said that if feasible, an amendment to the agreement will define the access.

“Otherwise, the solar land lease will be terminated without further access,” Kaenrath wrote in his memo.

Councilors also are scheduled to consider awarding a $17,764 contract to ProSeal LLC for paving Taxiway F at the Waterville Regional Airport, and a $38,500 contract to Covered Bridge Outdoor Construction Corp. of Manchester, New Hampshire, for grading of gravel and construction of a 24-by-36-foot slab and curb wall for a future garage at the airport. The garage would be built where a Quonset hut collapsed.

The start of Tuesday’s meeting is expected to include an update from police Officer Robert Bouley and Community Outreach Coordinator Todd Stevens on community policing.