Lancaster Township’s road crews will be represented by a union after supervisors Monday approved a collective bargaining agreement.

Supervisors approved the agreement between Lancaster and the International Union of Operating Engineers, or IUOE, Local 66, the union representing the township’s three full-time public works employees.

The township and its public works employees have been negotiating the union contract since at least January 2021, the first time supervisors held an executive session to discuss those employees’ collective bargaining.

Supervisors originally planned to approve the agreement Feb. 21, but postponed their consideration until March because they wanted to get “clarification” on matters within the agreement.

The board also approved Monday the hiring of a part-time, on-call seasonal employee for public works to assist with winter maintenance, contingent upon whether it is permitted under the union’s memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the township.

“I just want to be clear for council that Michael (Foote, township manager) has the MOU. It’s either going to be or has been circulated to you all,” solicitor Neva Stotler said. “Again, he has to look at it and agree to it and sign it, and it comes back to us to sign. If, for some reason, it doesn’t get signed, then that offer of employment doesn’t go through.”

Lancaster’s part-time, on-call seasonal public works employee would make $18 per hour for hours worked, with an estimated 12 hours scheduled in March for orientation and training.