By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Part-time library employees now get paid leave, according to a new contract with Teamsters Local 687 the Town Council ratified on Wednesday. The union represents library workers.

Part-timers also have to pay an extra $500 toward their health savings account. Town workers have a bank account into which they and the town deposit money to be used for health expenses only. In addition to that, they get two sick days annually.

Town Supervisor Joe Gray said to cut costs, they slashed some part-timers’ hours because the Affordable Care Act defines full-time as 30 hours or more.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to cut hours of part-time people to below 30,” Gray said.

He said some can sign waivers if they are covered elsewhere, such as another job or spouse.

“We may restore hours for some people,” Gray said.

The new deal also outlines raises for new hires annually through 2018.

The library employs three people full-time and six part-time.