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Council committees approve project labor agreement for new public works complex
Summary
Following presentations from labor leaders and the mayor, joint Community Development and Finance committees approved a project labor agreement to be included in bids for the new Central Maintenance public works complex.
The Community Development and Finance committees voted to authorize a project labor agreement, or PLA, to be incorporated into bidding for the new Central Maintenance public works complex, a bond-funded construction project the mayor said will cost about $21 million.
City officials said the PLA aims to increase schedule and cost certainty and encourage use of local, skilled labor. Matthew Salasi, executive director of the Construction Trades of Ohio Foundation, told the committees that PLAs are commonly used on large public projects and can reduce overruns, citing Lorain County High School as a local example that came in under estimate and on time.
Mayor Brubaker said the PLA could help keep construction wages and spending local and generate income tax receipts from workers on site. Labor representatives, including a representative identified in the meeting as Mr. Brookie of Local 758, urged support, and several council members voiced support for prioritizing local jobs and workplace safety.
Law and administration staff confirmed a PLA template had been shared with the law director and that including a PLA in the bid documents is compatible with Ohio competitive-bid procurement when drafted properly. Committees approved an ordinance authorizing the PLA and requested an emergency clause to maintain the project schedule; the motion passed in committee and then carried on the finance side as recorded in the meeting transcript.
The ordinance authorizes including a negotiated PLA in the bid package; the PLA itself will set the project-specific labor terms and expire at project close. Committee discussion noted the final PLA language would be drafted by the city law office and reviewed before full council action.
Council members and presenters framed the PLA as a tool to improve safety, timeliness and the local economic benefit of a large, taxpayer-funded construction project. No legal challenges or procurement objections were raised in committee.
