Allentown City Council, at a remarkably brief special meeting last night, voted unanimously to postpone "indefinitely" a poorly drafted ordinance that would require to maintain a registered apprenticeship program for city contracts. This bill had previously passed 4-3, buy was vetoed by Mayor Matt Tuerk because it was essentially a cut-and paste job. Had it become law, numerous city vendors would be unable to bid on future jobs.
After the veto, Council member Ed Zucal came up with an amendment that would also allow contractors to bid if craftsmen and operators were graduates of a technical institute, had 320 hours of on-the job training or were students at a technical institute with at least six months of on-the-job training.
Zucal's amendment was never considered because Council Member Josh "Doxer" Siegel asked council to postpone indefinitely any consideration of the responsible contractor ordinance. Council members were quick to agree.
As they made their way out the door, City Council Clerk Mike Hanlon advised Council members that the indefinite postponement means the bill is dead.
"It's dead for now," snapped Siegel.
13 comments:
Did Tuerk actually veto it, or did he take the weasel route and simply not sign it?
And this Siegel character, does anyone know why he's an errand boy for the forced membership unions?
Word is that CeCe Gerlach has been sentenced to ARD for her child endangerment screwup. Don't know if that is accurate. Been told it has been reported in the media.
Wonder if she is still th campaign coordinator for Josh Seigel and Tara Zrinski. It would make sense as both of these tone-deaf self-serving frauds don't have a clue. Two people looking for a sweet Harrisburg gig instead of a real job.
How about a responsible gun ordinance
Credit Mayor Tuerk and Allentown Council for doing no harm. That is a rare event in government especially when it runs against the union agenda and money.
Taxpayer funded "contracts" should always go to the least expensive QUALIFIED vendor/contractor. This set up and restriction of vendor use is geared toward the special few who meet the requirements. Based on certain interest groups (Union, special training programs, nepotism etc). Vendors should submit their bids and be vetted.
Can't someone offer Siegel a real job somewhere far away, like California?
Meanwhile in the good ole Xmas city, council passes everything-good or bad! A side note to @8:27 am. There is no nepotism in the Xmas city. Wink Wink
So now the work will be awarded to contractors to use employees who arrived in this country on a boat and cannot speak english. WElcome to America.
Bethlehem's proposed, Crampsie-Smith, Union bought, cut and paste ordinance is in the same category.
It's nice to see some common sense local government in Allentown.
The elitists in Bethlehem should answer their phones and emails and start to listen to the citizens they represent instead of catering to special interests.
In the professional services, I have seen bids lost by a few hundred dollars to contractors who were willing to cut corners to lower their bids. Lowest cost is not always best value, results in sustainable work, or even meets project objectives. A well written bid spec, bid narrative and good oversight leads to favorable outcomes. Depending on the task, best value may be an appropriate and acceptable award criteria.
The real question is "why".
Why a special, THREE MINUTE meeting to kill a bill that was never signed/vetoed?
Why was there little to no discussion about it at the dais? Surely council couldn't be discussing and deciding their votes beforehand, right?
Why did the Administration apparently have little to nothing to say about it? Didn't Tuerk pledge more transparency? He might speak two languages, but he's no more transparent than his predecessors.
Knowing the history of Allentown politics, I doubt this is a good development for residents or taxpayers. Whenever a bad idea fails, it usually means that an even worse idea is just around the corner. That is after all, the Progressive way.
As a responsibility ordnance they should write a law which says that any organization who donates to any politician or individual who is a manger or above role at and organization who contributes over $5000. Or any other incentive (dinner, vacation, golf, liquor, etc) who contributes over $100 to any politician, or anyone in their family shall never be allowed to awarded a contract directly with a the government or as a subcontractor to any government contractor during the time of that person tenure an for 10 years after that politician complete disengages. Also no politician should be allowed to go to work for any contractor who is awarded a contract during their term and or while in a government role for a period of 10 years after they leave office.
An if you really want to amp it up the individual or organization who does break this should also receive a penalty of 10 times the contribution level payable with 72 hours of it being discovered. And if they contest it the must must still be paid but will be held in escrow by the government until the matter is resolved.
Just imagine all those who would have not been able to build if this had taken place and been passed years ago.
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