SOMERS POINT — City Council voted unanimously Aug. 28 for a resolution that would ensure union labor would be used for construction of a potential new City Hall.
Councilman Sean McGuigan said the Buildings and Grounds Committee is exploring ways to fund replacement of City Hall, adding that he anticipates it would cost in excess of $5 million.
He said the resolution would ensure a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) would be used to do so.
“We’re a long way from making that final decision, but if we’re going to make that kind of investment with taxpayers’ money, I think we owe it to them to ensure that we’re able to deliver a product that we can be proud of and that can last and has excellent workmanship,” McGuigan said. “A PLA will ensure that the craftsmen that are on those projects have been trained properly and are skilled at their particular trade. So I think that this is somewhat of a no-brainer.”
He said a PLA also would ensure a safe work space.
“Labor is the backbone of this country and it’s incumbent upon us to ensure that it’s a safe project and it’s a safe working environment,” McGuigan said.
Councilman Howard Dill said he was in complete agreement.
“My family has been a longtime union family — 80 years ago my father was a member of the Teamsters,” he said.
Dill added that he was a labor organizer when he worked for the city’s Department of Public Works.
“I’ve always supported the unions and I support the unions now, that’s why I am going to vote yes on this resolution,” he said.
City Council President Charlie Haberkorn also agreed.
“I think as council members we owe it to the community as we try to undertake a potential new City Hall, and that’s going to be a large endeavor wherever we build it or whatever we do,” Haberkorn said.
He said council is approaching the project in an organized manner.
“We’re trying to lay it out so that we become educated the best we can. We do owe the residents of this city that type of process, and I believe putting this on now is just another step, recognizing that we do not want to fail on this project. We want to have the quality. We want to have the safety. We want to get the project done on time, we don’t want any cost overruns. We don’t want to have any work stoppages,” he said. “This will allow us to show our residents that we are taking a very meticulous, methodical approach in our endeavor.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff