The Cape Elizabeth Town Council is expected to approve a new contract with the police union Nov. 13 that would increase retirement benefits for police without getting officers back into the state retirement system.

The Cape Elizabeth police union reached an agreement with the town last week after more than a year without a contract. Two councilors said they had yet to review the contract but expected it would adhere to bargaining terms councilors had given to Town Manager Michael McGovern in recent executive sessions.

At a meeting on Oct. 26, 15 members of the Cape Elizabeth Police Benevolent Association, representing town police and dispatchers, reached an agreement over a contract with the town that had expired on June 30, 2005. McGovern said the new contract was consistent with bargaining instructions from the council.

“We are pleased to have a contract, and that the town recognizes police officers and dispatchers have a tough job to do,” said Mark Dorval, the Cape Police Benevolent Association president.

The new contract will increase the town’s contribution to the retirements plans of police officers. The town has been contributing 7 percent of officers’ salaries to 401 A retirement plans. Under the new contract, the town would contribute 8 percent, which would be retroactive to July 1, 2005. The contribution would increase to 10 percent as of July 1, 2006.

Police would also receive a 3 percent pay raise, which would be retroactive to July 1, 2005. A 4 percent pay raise would be retroactive to July 1, 2006.

“I am very pleased both sides came to an agreement, and we can move forward,” said McGovern. He said the council has gone into executive session at its last two meetings and given him terms for bargaining.

Town Councilor Anne Swift-Kayatta had not yet read the contract as of Monday, Oct. 30, but did not anticipate any problems with it.

Councilor Carolyn Fritz had not seen it either, but was sure the contract would be acceptable. “The council agreed to have the manager negotiate, and I think it will conform with what the council authorized,” said Fritz.

“I think it is definitely a good thing to have a contract,” she said. Fritz said it was unfortunate the police had to serve without one.

The new contract also offers a few additional benefits. These include an increase in uniform upkeep, which would increase to $600 annually, and an increase in gym benefits, which would increase to $250 annually, said Dorval.

“It is a good offer, and we are happy with it,” said Dorval. However, the police will be bargaining again in 2008 to rejoin the Maine State Retirement System, he said. Of course, new initiatives and the proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights could change the issues, added Dorval.

Whether police could get into the state retirement system was the fundamental dispute between the town and the Cape Elizabeth Police Benevolent Association. Police wanted to rejoin the state package that offers retirement at 55. The Cape retirement package does not allow retirement until 59.5 years of age, said Dorval.

However, the town argued that allowing police to rejoin the state program was too expensive. Under the new contract, the age of retirement would stay the same for police.

“That is the major issue we were trying to resolve,” said Dorval.

Both the town, represented by McGovern, and the Cape police association met in September for a fact-finding session, an arbitration method with a neutral third party. The report, which recommended the two sides sit down again, was released to the public on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Police have picketed several times since the contract with the town expired, including in front of town hall in April.