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Residents, union representatives press Chester council to revisit responsible contracting ordinance
Summary
Public commenters urged adoption of a responsible contracting ordinance (RCO) to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure trained local hires for major public works; council said it will revisit draft language and seek agreement before moving forward.
Residents, labor representatives and contractors urged Chester City Council on March 12 to adopt a responsible contracting ordinance (RCO) for major public works projects, arguing the measure protects taxpayers, ensures prevailing wages and creates training and apprenticeship opportunities for city residents.
Warren Santone, a resident and longtime advocate for the RCO, told council the ordinance would “protect the taxpayers” and require competitive bidding that prioritizes contractors who employ trained apprentices from local schools and programs. He said such language would help secure quality workmanship and local hiring.
Speakers representing construction and training programs described how prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship standards raise project costs but also ensure safer, higher‑quality outcomes and training pipelines for Chester residents. One speaker who identified himself as affiliated with a training program said his organization reinvests $25–30 million annually into apprenticeship training and emphasized the value of certified labor on public works projects.
Council members acknowledged broad support for the goals behind an RCO but said drafting acceptable, enforceable language requires careful work. Officials noted previous attempts to introduce an RCO had been on and off the agenda, and the mayor said the city and unions need to agree on language before bringing it back for a vote. Council members also said passing an RCO would require staff capacity to monitor prevailing wage compliance and site visits to verify contractor adherence.
Speakers identified implementation questions council must address if it proceeds: the threshold project size that would trigger RCO requirements, how prevailing wage and apprenticeship percentages would be enforced, minority and local hire goals, and the city’s capacity to perform compliance checks. Council asked staff to circulate prior drafts and said it would revisit the issue in committee and in further discussions with stakeholders.
No ordinance was adopted at the March 12 meeting; council and commenters agreed to continue drafting and negotiation before any vote.
