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Council authorizes project labor agreement for Middletown Middle‑High School project
Summary
The council approved a resolution authorizing formation of a project labor agreement (PLA) for the Middletown Middle‑High School construction after receiving a feasibility study; attorney Bill O'Gara briefed the council on PLA function, scope and market impacts
The Town of Middletown Town Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the establishment of a project labor agreement (PLA) for the Middletown Middle‑High School construction project.
Town officials introduced a memorandum and a feasibility study on the PLA. Attorney William (Bill) O'Gara, who completed the study, briefed the council on his findings and the legal framework. O'Gara told the council a project labor agreement is a labor contract tied to a specific construction project that requires construction unions to work for the length of the project, can preclude picketing and reduce labor disruption. Rhode Island law permits public authorities to use PLAs on projects where the authority determines a PLA will provide benefits for projects that are of sufficient size, complexity or scheduling need.
O'Gara and council staff outlined the project scope: a 211,000‑square‑foot middle‑high school with an estimated construction cost of $137,500,000. He said the project is subject to prevailing‑wage requirements and that union subcontractors dominate the market for large public‑school construction in Rhode Island, which meant a PLA was unlikely to put the town at a competitive disadvantage. The construction manager, Gilbane Construction, supported a PLA and believed it would help keep the project on schedule for the 2027‑28 school year.
The council received the memorandum and then voted on the resolution authorizing the solicitor's office to work with Gilbane Construction to enter into a PLA with Gilbane and trade unions in Rhode Island. The motion to adopt the resolution was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. No council member recorded opposition in the public transcript.
The council also noted the town had authorized an RFI and a feasibility study earlier; Attorney O'Gara performed that study on behalf of the town and presented the report to the council at the meeting.
The motion passed on a voice vote recorded in the transcript as "All in favor: Aye." The council did not record a roll‑call tally in the public record presented in the transcript.
