New ordinance could drive up building costs

By George P. Hassett

In the midst of an economic downturn, aldermen last week passed an ordinance that, according to critics, will drive up costs on city construction projects.

The Responsible Employer Ordinance was passed 7 votes to 3 on Thursday. It will require all companies doing work on city projects of $100,000 or more to participate in a state approved apprenticeship program. Many small companies do not offer such programs.

At a March 26 public hearing, opponents said the ordinance would limit bids to companies that use union labor. Alderman-at-Large William A. White said in general when fewer companies bid on a project, costs increase.

“There is a very great risk that this ordinance will cost the taxpayers of Somerville a substantial amount of money,” he said. White, Alderman-at-Large John M. Connolly and Alderman-at-Large Bruce Desmond voted against the proposal.

Ordinances similar to the one passed last week had been pushed by unions before. In 1985, union members packed City Hall by the hundreds to support an apprenticeship proposal eventually vetoed by then Mayor Eugene Brune. Brune also spoke against the latest ordinance.

The rebuilding of the East Somerville Community School, destroyed by a fire in December, is at the top of the city's to do list for construction. Supporters of the ordinance said it would increase the safety and quality of big city projects.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone supported the ordinance and in April said it was not a union issue. “If we're going to invest hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of dollars we need to be sure certain contractors are abiding by the law,” he said.

Comments

[JPM]

Responsible Employer Ordinance....that's a euphemism if ever I heard one.

It was passed 7-3. Bill Roche was absent. Bill White, Bruce Desmond and Jack Connolly voted against.

What is the new ordinance?

The new ordinance would apply to contractors working on projects worth $100,000 or more, and on sub-contractors whose share of a construction project amounts to $25,000 or more.

The Responsible Employers Ordinance, would hold all contractors bidding on contracts for public buildings to specific regulations.

a. they must provide health care and benefits to their workers,
b. they must all abide by prevailing wage laws, and
c. they must take part in a state-licensed apprenticeship program to train young workers.

Penalties include:

Temporary suspension of work on the project and/or withholding of city payments until compliance is obtained;
Permanent removal from any further work on the project; or,
Assessed damages in the value of 1/10 of 1% of the general contract or $ 1,000, whichever sum is greater – per week until compliance is obtained; and
The barring of violators from performing any work on any future contracts awarded by the city for six months for the first violation, three years for the second, and permanently for a third.

In my view this is a simple union give away that will raise costs for construction in Somerville.

How many of these union members who work on these projects actually live in Somerville? The job of an Alderman is to look after the interests of Somerville residents, especially taxpayers who pay the bills.

All of but stipulation C. above are already Massachusetts state law! So this ordinance was in reality simply mandating that a bidding contractor must take part in a state licensed apprenticeship program. Adopting the Responsible Employers Ordinance would largely benefit union contractors since 80 per cent of participants in the state's apprenticeship program are union shops. The effect of the ordinance would reduce the number of bidders for construction contracts -- which would cost money in the long run.

[This Country Was Built By Union Worker's]

The City Of Somerville should use union contractors to do construction throughout the city. I am surprised that the city is allowing private contractors to do the work. Look what happened with P.T. Kelly, they were screwing tax payer's for years. Rumor has it that the owner of P.T Kelly profited over 2 million last year.. This country was built by union employees and Somerville should continue employing those that offer fair labor, safe conditions and quality work. Shame on Bruce the deauce Desmond and shifty eye Jack.

[Ed Mahoney]

I'm a city counselor serving the interests of a mid-west community and we are about to vote on a similar ordinance that has been aggressively promoted by the unions.

I've been doing some research on these ordinances and I can't believe that anyone would support them.

I think the proposal is going to be voted down because of the potential for increased costs and because there are not enough union members from the community and even surrounding areas to do some of the major construction projects we have planned. Like MA, less than 1 in 5 construction workers in my state belong to a union and only a few union contractors participate in a union apprenticeship program and there are not apprenticeship programs in every trade.

The responsible contractor ordinance makes little sense for taxpayers and the overall construction community and is an obvious payback to local unions for their political support to Democrats during election season.

It looks like the same thing is happening in your community. It is disheartening to see that the political process which awards special interests is alive and well in Somerville.

I don't know the reputation of P.T. Kelly but the above statement by an obvious union member that a company, gasp, profited over $2million last year, as if that is some sort of crime, illustrates the unfortunate economic ideology of supporters of this ordinance.

Where I am from, we want profitable companies to continue to grow, regardless of their labor affiliation, so that they hire more people, buy more equipment, pay for services of other local businesses and contribute to the local tax base and overall economy.

We also want to create a level playing field so that all companies can grow and compete in a free market economy.

That's why I plan on voting against the responsible contractor ordinance - this legislation creates an environment that is the antithesis of good government.

[JPM]

Ed, of course it is a union giveaway. Frankly I am apalled that union members, most of whom earn far more than the average private sector working stiff in Somerville, are once again allowed to put their noses in the trough once again at our expense.

Anyone who knows anything about construction knows that the money cut offs... "The new ordinance would apply to contractors working on projects worth $100,000 or more, and on sub-contractors whose share of a construction project amounts to $25,000 or more" .....are so low that they basically give all Somerville construction jobs to the unions. Most city projects would cost more than $100,000...that is peanuts for a comercial construction job...especially when you have to pay union wages.

10.22pm if Union work is so great what about the Big Dig? It has been a disaster of massive costs overrides and poor workmanship.

The unions have tried to paint all smaller non-union contractors as shoddy "fly by night" enterprises. This is simply absurd. Many of us use these very contractors to perform work on our own homes and are very happy with the price and quality of work.

As I said, there are already plenty of laws on the books to protect workers. By mandating that they have apprenticeship programs, that most smaller contractors can not afford it is simply a way to shut out small contractors.

[Imux]

As a person who has never held down a real job, I am oppossed to these union kickbacks. If the unions got all the work, then there would be no jobs for undocumented workers. Then I would have nothing to complain about. If that ever happened, I would have to hang myself for lack of anything else to do.

Imux forever.

[Bill Shelton]

Maybe it should be renamed "The Irresponsible Campaign Contributor Act"

[Imux]

People do realize that I hadn't posted anything all weekend or today. The fake Imux - a real asshat who has a mancrush on me -- is back and has been posting as me.

[Imux]

Please disregard the last post. I am the true Imux. I would never use asstacular phrases like asshat and mancrush. What type of idiot do you take me, Imux, for?

[On Broadway]

I doubt "Ed Mahoney" is a "city counselor" seeing as it's spelled "city councillor". If he were for real, don't you think he could spell his own position?

I like union contractors over private contractors. We don't need more FW Russell's scamming the city out of money.

[Imux]

Enough is enough, fake Imux. Your crass language is unfitting for print. I want everyone to know that I, the true Imux, would never use such foul language. I am a live and let live Christian. Please sir, this is a forum for intelligent thought, something a fake Imux such as yourself could not understand. And I, Imux, will henceforth ignore your lecherous language.

The Immortal Imux

[Imux]

Please, there is no need to be lewd. I beg of you, stop besmirching my name. Blogging is the only thing I have. It is the only place I can go where people pay attention to me. I'd make my identity and opinions public, but I know I would get beaten up, just like I did in high school. I am ever so lonely.

Imux cries

[Imux]

Cut this **** out now! You moonbats are making me angry. And you won't like it when I'm angry! I swear, if I ever find you assclowns I am going to rip you a new one. Name the time and place, I'll be there.

There can be only one Imux

[Imux]

I am Imux!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lmux]

James, do something about this! How can other users still use my username? Are you doing this man? Is this a conspiracy against me? WTF????????!?!??!?!?!?

[Imux]

Whoa, fake Imux... you need some serious help. How's your wife doing? Is she home yet? She left here a little while ago. She's going to be sore.

[imux]

Jamie, please do something. I can't swallow my own medicine! Waaaah! It taste like justice, waahh!

Oh no, I, the real Imux, just let everyone know that I personally know the James Norton! What a fool I am. Looks like I'll have to just post on the Rush Limbaugh site for now on.

[Imux]

Jamie, please do something. I can't swallow my own medicine! Waaaah! It taste like justice, waahh!

Oh no, I, the real Imux, just let everyone know that I personally know the James Norton! What a fool I am. Looks like I'll have to just post on the Rush Limbaugh site for now on.

Posted by: imux | June 25, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Jamie, please do something. I can't swallow my own medicine! Waaaah! It taste like justice, waahh!

Oh no, I, the real Imux, just let everyone know that I personally know the James Norton! What a fool I am. Looks like I'll have to just post on the Rush Limbaugh site for now on.

Posted by: imux | June 25, 2008 at 12:31 PM

The fake Imux (imux) is koo-koo.... koo-koo.... koo-koo. Hey imux, how's it feel to want to be me? If you've kissed your wife recently then you at least tasted me. What a loser.