The Borough of Northampton and its police officers have reached an agreement concerning a new contract covering wages and benefits for its 10-member uniformed police force.

Borough Manager Gene Zarayko made the announcement at a recent borough council meeting.

The police officers have been working without a contract since Jan. 1, the day after the former three-year contract expired. Police are not permitted by state law to strike.

Zarayko, who believed a new contract could be achieved without going to arbitration, said the tentative contract will now go to borough council for a vote Aug. 16. The agreement is expected to be ratified.

The council police committee headed by Councilman Robert McHale was instrumental in the bargaining talks with the police representatives.

The terms of the contract were not made public. There was no comment on the issues that caused the long stalemate. The length of the new pact was not disclosed.

The terms of the new pact will be retroactive to January. The borough budget reportedly had allowed for provisions in a new contract.

A binding arbitration hearing was set for Wednesday, Aug. 15, but this has since been canceled. The decision made at the arbitration hearing would have been final and no appeal would have been allowed by either side.

Police Chief Ron Morey is not part of the police bargaining unit.