Commissioner presses to preserve broad PLA coverage for Koppers redevelopment; board moves to closed session

Commissioner William O'Dea told colleagues at the June 11 caucus that representatives tied to the Koppers redevelopment had proposed multiple, separate project labor agreements (PLAs) that would cover segmented work (civil/roads/buildings) and limit PLA coverage to core-and-shell construction while excluding tenant fit-outs. O'Dea said that the proposal also raised a concern about excluding Teamsters for earth-moving work and urged the board to address the approach early.

"They're looking to only do the core and shell and not to fit out of the buildings," O'Dea said, according to the caucus transcript, and warned that a fragmented approach could create precedent problems. He asked administration to "nip that in the bud" to avoid repeating difficulties from past projects.

County Administrator Abraham Antun responded that he had told the Morris representative the PLA must be agreed before he brings anything before the Board. Antun said separate PLAs for separate projects are "conceptually" possible but that "the devil's in the detail," and he agreed to follow up and report back to the commissioners.

The board then voted to enter executive session to discuss contract negotiations and litigation; the clerk recorded an affirmative roll call with all present Commissioners voting in favor. The closed session was convened to allow discussion of contract strategy, and the caucus later adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

The transcript identifies the speakers by the names and titles used at the meeting. No final PLA or contract decisions were recorded in the caucus transcript; County Administrator Antun said any PLA must be agreed before matters are brought back to the full Board.