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Board approves project labor agreement for Lewis Road mental health facility after heated debate
Summary
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a project labor agreement for the Lewis Road Mental Health Rehabilitation Center, adding two contract safeguards after an hours‑long debate between labor unions and taxpayer groups about costs, local hire and the need for more comparative data.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on March 24 voted to direct staff to execute a project labor agreement (PLA) for the Lewis Road Mental Health Rehabilitation Center, a state‑funded infrastructure project the county says will expand local behavioral‑health capacity.
Supervisor René Lopez, who brought the item, said the PLA would help ensure state dollars translate into local jobs. “I see this as an opportunity to ensure that those dollars are used for local jobs, for skilled and trained workers already here in our community,” Lopez told colleagues during the presentation introducing the agreement and its terms.
The board amended the proposed PLA with two edits aimed at protecting state project funding: language saying PLA compliance will not be required where it conflicts with the county’s project funding agreement, and a provision allowing…
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