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Bensalem council adopts stricter Responsible Contractor Ordinance, requires 70% journeymen/apprentices and OSHA training
Summary
The Bensalem Township Council on March 23 adopted amendments to its Responsible Contractor Ordinance requiring that at least 70% of craft workers be journeymen or registered apprentices, extending coverage to offsite manufacturing and raising OSHA training requirements for craft and supervisory staff.
Bensalem Township Council voted unanimously March 23 to adopt changes to its Responsible Contractor Ordinance that tighten apprenticeship and safety requirements for contractors working on township projects.
Solicitor Joe Pizzo, who introduced the ordinance revisions during the public hearing, said the amendment “now require[s] that at least 70% of the craft employees or workers employed on a project have to be either journeymen or have successfully completed a class A apprenticeship program, or currently be apprentices in a registered class A program for the trade in which they are employed.” He said the revised language also makes clear that workers performing offsite manufacturing for a project must meet the ordinance’s requirements.
Pizzo told council the ordinance also upgrades training and safety standards: “all of the craft workers or craft employees on a job have to have completed at a minimum the 10‑hour OSHA construction training course for safety,” and “all supervisory personnel on a project have to have complied with the 30‑hour OSHA construction training course.” He said those changes reflect suggestions discussed at the January meeting and review with building trades and contractors.
Resident Matt Rista, who identified himself from Wayland Avenue during public comment, praised the council’s direction: “Just want to thank all the elected officials up here for being good stewards of the taxpayer and constituents’ money … ensure that every project here has a highly trained, skilled workforce, and putting safety, transparency, and accountability on every project.”
Council members, noting outreach to labor and contractors, moved and seconded adoption and approved the ordinance by voice vote. The presiding official called the motion carried; the transcript records the vote as unanimous.
Next steps: the ordinance was adopted at the meeting and will be enforced on applicable township projects; council did not discuss specific enforcement mechanics or a phased implementation schedule during the hearing.
