A Board of Education-approved contract giving the town's school principals a 7.8 percent raise over the next four years was not accepted by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) tonight. Now, the contract will go to binding arbitration, a process which could take up to 30 days.

Although BOE chairman Frank Carrano told the RTM he felt the contract was negotiated in good faith, at no cost to the town, and was "...fair to both sides"; the RTM voted down the recommendation by a vote of 20-6.

Leading the charge to vote against the contract was Republican Marc Riccio, who brought out visual aids including a chart showing salaries to be earned by the town's principals.

"We are setting the bar and opening the door to put the town of Branford in financial distress," said Riccio, pointing out that, among other salaries, the highest under the proposed contract (the high school principal's salary) will increase from $149,103 in 2013-14 to $157,446 by 2016-17.

Saying that figure would mean the next contract (2016-20) would likely include a high school principal's salary touching on $200,000, Riccio said, "...there is already so much financial stress on property owners today -- we're relying on property taxes -- where is that revenue going to come from? I will take my chances with binding arbitration. The last time, it worked."

Responding to a comment from Carrano regarding the potential cost to the town and the chance that the salary increase could go higher, should the contract be sent to binding arbitration, Democrat Maggie Bruno pointed out the last contract negotiation was sent to binding arbritation at a total cost of $1500 ($750 to the town, $750 to Branford Administrators Organization).

"The settlement came back with a zero percent increase in the first year. There is no guarantee arbitration is going to go higher," said Bruno.

RTM Republican Cynthia Nargi said public sector workers should be held to the same standards as private sector workers, many who are losing jobs, receiving raises averaging one or two percent, or facing being "bumped down" to 28 hours to avoid employers paying growing health care costs. She also said she felt raises should be merit-based.

RTM Democrat Josh Brooks said he disagreed with "not giving raises based on the economy" especially in the public sector, "...because it's such a small raise, over four years, 7.8 percent (is a) fair contract."