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Ogdensburg moves forward with project labor agreement after securing state funding

Posted 6/25/19

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week. OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council has voted unanimously to accept a $4.9 million state Environmental Facilities Corporation loan and maintain its Project …

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Ogdensburg moves forward with project labor agreement after securing state funding

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week.

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council has voted unanimously to accept a $4.9 million state Environmental Facilities Corporation loan and maintain its Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for its $35 million wastewater treatment plant project.

The city had been set to receive a $4.9 million USDA Rural Development grant and loan package, but recently received notice that the proposed PLA would put that in jeopardy. However, the city was able to replace that funding with the EFC loan.

The PLA is expected to save the city nearly $1 million over the course of the two-year project.

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

The controversial agreement drew support from organized labor, but some local contractors urged the city to steer clear of such an agreement.

The agreement does provide some guarantees for the city, protecting taxpayers from unforeseen costs that might arise and a locked in time frame.

Roughly 40 members of local labor unions attended the meeting and applauded the passage of the resolution.

The PLA was trumpeted by Deputy Mayor Dan Skamperle, who offered appreciation to his fellow council members for sticking with the plan, despite the hiccups along the way.

Also speaking at the meeting was union leader Fred Carter, who offered appreciation for the council, and labor leader Ernie Labaff, who  was instrumental in helping with the PLA behind the scenes.

Several councilors praised the PLA, saying they were glad the project would be completed using local labor.