Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse From left, Cardinal Joint Fire District Board members Richard Russo, Chairman Dave Knarr, Christine Oliver and Marie Cartwright vote to approve a contract with the full-time firefighters at a special meeting Tuesday.

CANFIELD — The Cardinal Joint Fire District Board of Directors approved a fact-finding report for a contract between the district and the full-time firefighters union.

Following the opening of Tuesday’s meeting, very little discussion was held and a vote was called for to accept the fact finding report. All four members present agreed to the report and contract.

One issue that affects the contract are new federal regulations regarding overtime.

“Overtime is no longer being taxed, but since this contract is retroactive to July 1, 2025, it will be a headache to figure out,” said fire Chief Don Hutchison.

He explained the federal government stopped taxing overtime as of September. Since the contract will be retroactive to July, all overtime from July to September would be taxable. Overtime from September and after won’t be.

As for the financial part of the contract, Chairman Dave Knarr said it gives the full-time union members, under Canfield Professional Firefighters Local 4507, a 4% raise in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The new contract will run from July 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2027.

“In essence it is a two-and-a-half year contract,” Knarr said. “The union members will get a 4% raise in July then will be asking for a raise six months later (in a new contract)..”

Another contract change involves sick leave and how it can be used.

“If you are too sick to come to work here, you can’t go somewhere else and work,” Knarr said. “Sick leave was never defined before. Now it is.”

Other major points of the contract included an increase in uniform allowance from $150 to $300.

Also, Juneteenth was added as an official holiday, bringing the total number of paid holidays to 12.