An increase in base salaries and pay rates for the Amherst Fire Department is making its round for passage with Amherst City Council.
Mayor Mark Costilow said during a Nov. 16 City Council Finance Committee meeting that an agreement between the city and a team that represents Amherst's firefighters was overhauled, since responsibilities for the fire department have increased due to the pandemic.
"They (the firefighters) don't have a union, but we treat them as if they are, and we negotiate and go through these terms," Costilow said.
The city increased the fire chief's salary last year, and has now followed suit with the base salary in the fire department, he said.