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Union leader urges council not to outsource Barberton building department to county, warns of enforcement gaps and layoffs
Summary
Kendall Lawson, president of ASME Local 265 and a Barberton city employee, told council on June 2 that a proposal to shift building permit work to the county would hurt the city, reduce enforcement presence, cut revenue and could violate union contracts and cause layoffs.
Kendall Lawson, president of ASME Local 265 and a Barberton city employee, addressed the Barberton City Council on June 2 to oppose a proposal she said would eliminate the city's building department and send permit work to Summit County.
"Sending the work to the county does nothing but hurt the city, in my opinion," Lawson said. She told council members the change would reduce permit revenue, make permit pulling less convenient for residents and contractors who would have to travel to Akron, and would likely reduce local enforcement because county staff would not be in Barberton daily.
Lawson said the change would adversely affect employees who live and work in Barberton and could "cause layoffs" and "bumping" under the union contract. She said the proposal could violate the union agreement by taking city work and potentially reducing positions. Lawson urged council to consider the impacts on safety, enforcement and city pride and offered to meet with members to discuss the issue further.
Council did not take formal action on the building department topic during the June 2 meeting; Lawson's remarks were made during the citizens addressing the council segment and recorded as public comment.
