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Union County contractor rules draw criticism from union contractor representative
Summary
A union contractor representative urged the board to rescind a plan to lower the county's PLA threshold from $5 million to $3 million, arguing the change would increase costs and reduce opportunities for immigrant workers; he also questioned several contract increases and change orders noted in the agenda.
Bruce Patterson of Garwood, speaking during public comment, pressed the board to reconsider lowering the project's PLA threshold from $5,000,000 to $3,000,000, saying the older threshold adjusted for inflation should be about $9,000,000 and that the proposed change would impose higher costs through jurisdictional work rules. He cited a Stockton College study and estimated the change could add between $300,000 and $700,000 in costs to county contracts.
Patterson also queried several resolutions on the agenda — including increases to outside counsel contracts and a new change order for Grove Contractors related to Ashbrook Clubhouse repairs — and asked what was driving the higher legal fees. He urged the board to "walk back your plans and reconsider the PLA threshold." No formal board direction to change procurement policy was recorded during the meeting; county counsel later explained that Genova Burns' fee increases relate to substantial litigation and expert witnesses, and that the Taylor Law Group increase pertains to litigation around the Clark Reservoir project.
