More than three months after their contracts expired, Charlestown department heads as well as clerical and other Department of Public Works employees remain without new agreements.

Contract discussions were put on hold this summer as the Town Council canceled two of its meetings due to political bickering among its members.

Town Solicitor Robert E. Craven said he and Town Administrator Edward M. Barrett plan to present contract proposals for both units to the council Monday.

The town and the union that represents DPW clericaland other personnel, Teamsters Local 251, are also fighting over whether the position of secretary/clerk in the Department of Public Works should be included in the bargaining unit.

The state Labor Relations Board issued a prelimary decision on Aug. 19 in favor of adding the position to the bargaining unit. The town requested a full hearing before the seven-member board, but one yet to be scheduled.

“In a normal process, it wouldn’t get this far,” said Steven Labrie, business agent for Teamsters Local 251, who blames the town’s political chaos.

“It is what it is. She’s clerical. She’s getting the exact same pay” and benefits. “It just seems like a waste of money on everyone’s behalf.”

Labrie said the union filed a grievance when the town failed to post the new full-time position as required by the contract.

“I argued that no one knew that there was a job opening, so they couldn’t bid on it,” he said.

The town labor lawyer, Daniel Kinder, “said it wasn’t part of the union, so it doesn’t have to be posted.”

The union filed for arbitration, but the town went to court to stop it. A Superior Court judge has since ruled that the matter has to be handled through arbitration.

An arbitration session has been scheduled for December, Labrie said.

“They are fighting it tooth and nail for 1½ years,” Labrie said. “It just seems like an awful lot of money being spent for no reason at all. They could have ended this saga a long time ago.”

Barrett and Kinder did not return calls for comment.

The Journal filed a public records request Friday regarding the town’s legal expenses. No information has been provided so far.

The treasurer’s office did not return a call for comment yesterday.

The contracts with Teamsters Local 251 and with the Charlestown Professional Management Association, which represents department heads, both expired on June 30.

Employees are working under the provisions of the previous contracts.

Craven said the council-appointed negotiating committee –– Craven, Barrett, and Councilwoman Harriet A. Allen –– have reached a tentative agreement with the CPMA. The proposed three-year contract, however, is yet to be ratified by the council.

“[You] can’t have a vote unless you have a meeting, can’t have a meeting when you don’t have a quorum,” he said.

Labrie said Local 251’s negotiations with the town are very preliminary.

The sides last met early last month.

Labrie said Barrett has asked the union to sign a one-year extension to bring all the bargaining units into the same schedule.

But “we haven’t got to that point yet,” Labrie said.

“There is nothing on the table as far as wages.”

Craven said he and Barrett had discussed “parameters” with the clerks union, including salary and benefit changes.

The union’s “offer is outside of the parameters that we originally discussed,” Craven said.

He said the council is to review the union’s request and consider a counteroffer. He did not elaborate on the town or union positions.

marmenta@projo.com