Yesterday, I told you that Northampton County Council was asked to approve three contracts totaling $261,000 to replace a bathroom at Louise Moore Park. This proposal was attacked by Council member John Goffredo because the contracts being considered were under a Responsible Contactor Ordinance (RCO), first adopted in 2018. He argued that a local, nonunion contractor who pays a prevailing wage and posts a bond should be able to bid on these projects.
At last night''s County Council meeting, the contracts were awarded to union contractors along a rare, party-line vote. Democrats Kevin Lott, Tara Zrinski, Kerry Myers, Ron Heckman and Lori Vargo Heffner voted to award the contracts. Republicans John Goffredo, John Brown, Tom Giovanni and John Cusick voted No.
I do agree that the RCO should be amended to provide that, if no contactors who have an apprenticeship within a 25-mile radius submit a bid, the county should be able to consider bids from local contractors who pay prevailing wage, post a bond, and employ citizens or permanent residents.
16 comments:
$261K for a bathroom? Are there $600 toilet seats? You can almost buy a house for that.
Imagine a world where the county hires a local contractor and pays them a livable wage to do the work. The county, because it’s run by aging boomers, still believe that contractors are desperate for work. But they facts are these construction companies are in high demand to the point they can choose hassle-free work and make enough to support themselves. They don’t need to “bid” for work and undercut their profits because there’s plenty of residential projects that will pay them better. But look at all the rich politicians in county council that voted against this notion. Disgusting.
It's appropriate that this wasteful union protection plan will build a toilet. That's where shit belongs. Go union. Eat the shit in that bathroom you're raping taxpayers for! Norm Rae!!!
Thieves.
How did the contracts get awarded on a 4 - 4 vote? Am I missing something in your story?
Sorry, missed LVH.
"Imagine a world where the county hires a local contractor and pays them a livable wage to do the work. The county, because it’s run by aging boomers, still believe that contractors are desperate for work. But they facts are these construction companies are in high demand to the point they can choose hassle-free work and make enough to support themselves."
Then you have nothing to worry about. Heaven forbid that the taxpayers would want a cost estimate in advance of hiring you. Contractors like you are why we have an RCO.
Equal opportunity? It does not appear so. This is as egregious and small business set asides that literally takes work away from incumbents, and tells them to train their replacement. Mom and pops don't have buildings funded by the Commonwealth to call apprenticeships. It is a bathroom renovation. Not a full building renovation. All families matter.
Prevailing wage is a scam. It increases costs to the taxpayer for no better end product. Just because it's union doesn't make it better. I have first hand experience working next to the union crowd. Their motto should be, "Get paid more to do less!" Current job markets do not favor the expansion of unions. I agree 100% with the no vote.
"Prevailing wage is a scam. It increases costs to the taxpayer for no better end product. Just because it's union doesn't make it better."
Prevailing wage must be paid on all county construction, union or not, so you clearly don't know what you're talking about.
The issue with the RCO is the bidders on these contract are very few contractors, One or maybe two contractors. Everybody (Contractors union or non-union) has the same problem with supply of materials. If you look at the awarded contractors for this project, only one was from Northampton County, Wind Gap Electric. The other two contractors for this project were from outside the County, Emmaus and Reading. Their are very good small business trade contractors in Northampton County with bonds for project like this.
I believe that plumbing bid after no bidder on two failed attempts of seeking bids was awarded by the administration from a list of responsible contractors.
This is how the Taxpayers of Northampton County are not getting the best value for their tax dollars.
C’mon Bernie, do you honestly believe that the lowest bids are always the best contractors?
The courthouse garage was constructed by a “lowest bid” contractor and it deteriorated within a few years because of shoddy work forcing the county to pump millions into it to fix it.
How’s that for saving taxpayers money?
"Heaven forbid that the taxpayers would want a cost estimate in advance of hiring you."
Exactly why council has to step up and demand their own independent study of the silly private health care center McClure wants. Most employees are not interested but wonder why he would do this yet continue to obstruct a pay study.
Who said we’re not interested? Your one friend who also happens to be a county employee? Even with a decent healthcare provider, I’ll take any help I can get during these difficult times.
Those are sky high prices for the work being done, but then why shouldn't we pay sky high prices when we elect clowns who think their ass is out of this world. Time to change the bidding structure.
Sure, think nothing of the poor taxpayer who has to pay your salary and extensive benefits.
Prevailing wage must be paid on all county construction, union or not, so you clearly don't know what you're talking about.
Most of the time, yes, I don't know what I'm talking about.
Prevailing wage is the rate set by the union bosses. When I bid a job with prevailing wage requirements, I just factor that cost in. Doesn't change my margin, I just pass that along to the taxpayer. That's clearly how non-union companies deal with prevailing wage.
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