A three-year contract with the International Association of Firefighters No. 4068 was approved by the Pahrump Town Board Saturday, providing a 7 percent cost-of-living adjustment for the year beginning July 1.

Both Pahrump Fire Chief Scott Lewis and lead IAFF negotiator Tim Murray were pleased neither sides had to go to arbitration since the union's founding.

The 7 percent COLA is on top of step increases of 4 percent firefighters will be entitled to receiver.

Town board Vice Chairman John McDonald said firefighters had received only 2-1/4 percent raises each of the last two years and 3 percent the year before that. The contract calls for a 5 percent COLA in 2009 and another 5 percent in 2010.

McDonald said firefighters receive from $13.24 to $21.19 per hour. That average will rise to $18.79 with the 7 percent COLA and the 4 percent step increase.

The average wage would translate into $54,115 per year of straight pay without overtime. When that annual wage is multiplied by the 27 firefighters, the town will be paying $1.46 million for firefighting personnel who belong to the union. That's an annual increase of $122,083 in the town budget over the old wages.

"Most of the factors and issues that were discussed, without getting into great detail, were safety related," Lewis told the town board.

The contract calls for the establishment of a joint labor-management safety committee to revise policies and procedures, review safety clothing and investigate injuries.

Both sides agreed to begin discussions in July 2009 on minimum, mandatory staffing levels.

Town board member Don Rust was ready to approve the contract without going into executive session.

"Are you and Chief Lewis satisfied with the agreement that you reached and that it's within our town budget?" Rust asked.

"Yes," McDonald replied.

"Then I see no reason for any closed session. We can vote on it. I'm going to vote on it because I trust you," Rust said.

McDonald said the way the agenda was worded required a closed session, so after a brief argument, the three board members briefly stepped outside the town annex, then reentered the room to reconvene in open session.

Town board Chairman Laurayne Murray read a statement which concluded she didn't have to recuse herself from the vote -- her husband is the lead union negotiator -- but "to avoid any potential perception of conflict" she left the room anyway and didn't participate. Board member Nicole Shupp was absent.

* On another front, the town board voted to hire Dr. Kevin Slaughter to replace Dr. Thomas Higgins as medical director for the Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Service. Dr. Higgins is taking a job in Kansas City, Kan., Lewis said.

Lewis said he works often with the medical director on establishing protocol for the emergency medical service. The medical director is the physician overseeing the fire and rescue service.

The medical director will be paid a flat $1,000 per month.

Lewis said Slaughter was recommended by Dr. Higgins, by town staff, hospitals where he enjoys privileges and others.

* A three-year employment agreement was approved with new town manager Bill Kohbarger, paying him an annual base salary of $105,000.

Kohbarger, the former Carlin city manager, expects to begin work June 30.

The town is required to give a four-month notice not to renew the contract or it's automatically renewed an additional three years. Kohbarger is required to give a 30-day notice if he wishes to resign prior to the expiration of his contract.

Kohbarger may be removed by a majority vote of the town board. If he's terminated without cause before his contract expires, Kohbarger will be eligible for six months severance pay. The contract outlines examples when he could be removed with cause.

Kohbarger will receive up to $10,000 for relocation costs.