Springfield committee reviews project updates, REO compliance and private-development tools

The Responsible Employer Ordinance Committee of Springfield City received an update from staff on ongoing construction projects, contract litigation and progress meeting Responsible Employer Ordinance (REO) hiring goals, and discussed tools for applying REO expectations to private development.

Committee Chair opened the Feb. 02 meeting and asked staff for a status update. Sean, the city’s Section 3 director, summarized the REO’s federal linkage: “Section 3 is basically, a regulation that that stipulates that we're trying to promote employment for low income individuals, in all of our contracting using federal, financial assistance,” he said.

Che, a city project manager, gave the project-by-project status. He said the Barney Carriage House chimney repair contract is on hold and “we're in litigation with Cape Cod Builders,” and added, “I think it's a $1,000,000 project.” Che said Franconia and Veterans golf-course clubhouse work is on track for the April 1 start of the golf season, though Veterans may be delayed by a water-and-sewer issue. Walker Grandstand (the baseball grandstand at Forest Park) is likewise on schedule for spring work including bleachers, roof, bathrooms and dugouts. The DPW roof project is nearing completion after earlier delays.

Gurdonville Park is entering abatement this week and city staff said the park will receive a playscape and Springfield’s first skate park; staff will provide an anticipated completion schedule once abatement work advances. Che said several large school projects are planned for the summer or next year depending on funding: a roof replacement at Glenwood School, roof work at High School of Commerce, Indian Orchard Elementary, Sumner Avenue, and multiple windows-and-doors projects including Central High School and Milton Bradley; he also identified a larger ongoing project at Herrena School he described as “a hundred and $50,000,000 project.”

Committee members pressed on REO closeout figures and outreach. Che said the DPW closeout showed 54% minority participation, about 10% female workers reported and 2.7% veterans; he noted roofing trades are particularly hard to recruit women into. For the Franconia clubhouse contract Che reported recorded participation as minorities 32.5%, women 8%, Springfield residents 34.5% and veterans 0%, and said Walker and Veterans final REO numbers remain pending while subcontractors submit information.

Committee members and staff discussed outreach and advertising requirements. Che said contractors are asked to advertise openings on job sites and with local unions and community-based organizations and submit a “maximum efforts” form documenting their outreach. Fiore suggested a $500 threshold for meaningful crew size as a rule of thumb for scrutiny on small subcontract awards.

Members also raised how the REO can apply to private development supported by city tools. The committee discussed use of tax-increment financing (TIF) agreements and project labor agreements (PLAs) as mechanisms to secure workforce and local-hire commitments on private projects that receive city support. Lindsay, representing the administration, said she could not speak to whether private developers would accept new oversight language in existing TIF ordinances and that the topic needs further study. Members recommended scheduling a separate, detailed session on PLAs and negotiating REO terms for private projects.

No formal motions or votes were recorded at the meeting. Staff said they will circulate draft minutes at the next meeting, and will send the outstanding REO closeout numbers for Walker and Veterans when the subcontractor reports are complete.

The committee ended the meeting after roughly 30 minutes with plans to follow up on outstanding REO submissions and to schedule a deeper session on PLAs and TIF language.