Police officers who hope to or already work in Westport no longer have to live in town, under the terms of a new three-year contract recently approved by the select board and signed off on by the union.

Police Chief Christopher Dunn said the town’s residency requirement has been a complication as the department looks to fill six open positions — roughly 20 percent of the town’s force, which is budgeted at 31 officers. Easing that requirement will hopefully bring in more candidates from surrounding towns, he said.

“It’s huge,” Chief Dunn said Wednesday morning. “We’re at, what, 80 percent” staffing?

The change will also help the town get trained officers much more quickly, added town administrator James Hartnett, as it “allows (Dunn) to fill it with officers that have gone through training. If you’re new here, it’s a six month process” to go through training.

Under the contract’s terms, officers from other towns, who have experience, are granted five days’ vacation time after six months on the job. However, out-of-town officers will not enjoy a benefit that locals do — take home department vehicles will not be issued to out-of-town officers as they are for those who live here.

The change in residency requirements also applies to current officers, who are now able to move out of town without violating the terms of their contract.

Other parts of the contract include:

• A “light duty clause” asked for by Chief Dunn, which allows officers who are injured on the job the opportunity to come back and work on light duty, rather than taking injury leave. The fire department has had a light duty clause in its contract for years, and Chief Dunn said it makes sense for the police as well — “it’s a cost savings for the town” to offer light duty, as opposed to working with the town’s insurer, MIA, on injured leave pay.

• The contract includes a 3 percent Cost of Living analysis during each of the contract’s three years. In addition, thee is a small differential increase in the second and third years that Hartnett said comes in at about half of what a COLA increase would cost.

“It won’t impact the budget this year,” Hartnett said.

Highway Department

The union representing highway department employees also recently signed a three-year deal with the town, a process that took about three months.

Like the police contract, it includes a 3 percent Cost of Living raise each year, and some minor changes including a cell phone allowance, a $25 increase in the clothing allowance, and a policy change in the case of grievances. Going forward, grievances will go to the town administrator first, before moving on to the Westport Select Board.