Northampton Borough Council earlier this month ratified a new wage and benefits contract for public works department employees and employees at the waste water treatment plant.

The three-year agreement is effective Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2015.

In a report to the eight member legislative body, Borough Manager Gene Zarayko stated, "They [employees] will be receiving a 60 [cents] an hour pay raise each of the three years." The pay raise equates to $1.80 over the length of the contract.

"[Employees] will be required to pay 5 percent of the cost of health care coverage, with a cap of $1,500, " Zarayko said. "Also, any new employee hired after Jan. 1, 2013, will no longer belong to the borough's defined contribution plan. Instead, we will be starting a new defined contribution plan. The borough will require that new employees contribute a minimum of 3 percent, with a maximum of 17-1/2 percent and the borough will match 3 percent."

Also included in the new agreement is an opportunity for any full-time employee to opt out of medical coverage and receive a $2,000 incentive.

"They [employees] have signed on," said council President John Yurish. There were reportedly three bargaining sessions between both parties.

"Ready to move on," is how Yurish viewed the contract settlement, adding "nothing earth shattering" is in the pact.

Neither side had any concern that a contract wouldn't be reached.