By JIMMY LAWTON
North Country Now

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council will seek a study to determine if a controversial project labor agreement would save money on the wastewater treatment plant, despite caution from City Manager Sarah Purdy.

Union members and leaders from around the county attended the city council meeting Monday to support the study.

A Project Labor Agreement (PLA), is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor organizations that establishes the terms of employment for a specific project.

Some local contractors have urged the city to steer clear of such an agreement, while union members have offered support.

On Monday former Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority board leader Fred Carter spoke in favor of the study. He said the city has an obligation to the taxpayers to get the best price on the project and the study should be completed to determine if a PLA can provide that.

Other union leaders that spoke at the meeting included Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall and OBPA Board President Sam Burns.

Speaking against the PLA was local business man Russ Finley, who said the PLA would end up costing the city more than a standard bid.

At a previous meeting officials heard from Seeler Engineering, a company that helps facilitate PLAs.

The proposal to investigate an agreement came from Councilor Daniel Skamperle, who believes the city could save money on its massive wastewater treatment project by establishing a PLA.

Seeler estimated an agreement would save 3-6 percent of the cost. He said a study would cost between $14,000 - $21,000 when including negotiations.

City Manager Sarah Purdy warned the city that going with a PLA this late in the process could significantly delay the construction of the $35 million wastewater treatment plant. A timeline she discussed at the meeting estimated the project would be delayed from May to November, essentially an entire construction season.

Purdy said a PLA could also place financing sources at risk and said the city must ensure that a PLA would not interfere with $25 million in grants and loans.

She also urged the city council to bid the study rather than move forward to with Seeler Engineering. Despite reluctance from Mayor Wayne Ashley and councilors David Price and Jennifer Stevenson, the council voted in favor of seeking bids to complete a PLA study.

While all three said they were interested in a PLA, the delayed construction and potential dangers regarding the dangerous chlorine system used by the city made them reluctant to delay.

The measure passed 6-1 with councilor Price voting against it. Mayor Wayne Ashley supported the measure but noted that it was reluctantly.