Co-Chair Delfino called the meeting to order at 3:12 p.m.

Co-Chair Delfino began by stating that the task force thought it would have been irresponsible of them if they did not have the individual who supports the Executive Order, basically authored it and promotes it, come in to explain how it got started. This individual is Eddie Doyle, from the Teamsters Union. Mr. Doyle stated that originally the idea came from up in Boston Harbor. They did a contract up there for a ten year job. It was challenged in all the Courts, every step of the way it was declared legal. It effected us in Westchester about four or five years ago when a company came in and were low bidder on the Tappan Zee Bridge, they were from Main. There were lots of demonstrations, and picketing on the bridge. Two years ago most of the presidents of Westchester/Putnam buildings trades, the president of the New York State buildings trades and at that time Governor Cuomo, started negotiating. The thruway authority decided they wanted to do a PLA. They modeled it after the Boston Harbor agreement. They followed the guidelines of the Boston Harbor agreement because they knew it was going to be challenged in the Courts. The thruway authority hired the same attorneys that were used in the Boston Harbor agreement, and guided them along through it. It has been working now on the Tappan Zee Bridge for two years. They have meetings in Mr. Doyle’s office every three months with the thruway authority, the buildings trades, the contractors to iron out any kind of grievances that they may have. It is going smoothly. The

beauty of the PLA is that anyone can bid the job, union, non-union it makes no difference. What helps is that local people end up getting them, there are no work stoppages, and the contractor gets some

concessions from the unions that they don’t normally get. Mr. Doyle approached County Executive O’Rourke last year to consider an Executive Order for a PLA for any job over one million dollars. They have been working on that for the last eight months. They took the PLA from the Tappan Zee Bridge and adapted it into a package for Westchester County. Mr. Doyle gave a copy of the agreement to the Task Force. Mr. Doyle’s concern is that when Mr. O’Rourke steps down, the Executive Order is over. He feels it should go before the Board of Legislators and make it a law here. It does not restrict any one from bidding the job, and every job the County does is a prevailing wage job so no one can complain that they have to pay union wages because the union wages are the prevailing wages. Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins interjected that one of the things the Task Force is trying to asses is the feasibility of keeping the amount at one million dollars, or if it is more prudent to raise the cap on it. Mr. Doyle responded that he originally felt it should be any job. He went on to say that what they are trying to do from a Westchester County stand point is to get the local people to do the work. The higher the amount goes, the lesser the chance for the local people to get the work. What happens is that people from all over the Country come to bid. Co-Chair Delfino stated that one of the things that has bothered him on the occasions when he has sat in on the Acquisitions and Contracts meetings for the Chairman, was that, there are several contracts that have gone to groups that were from out of State. We have so many qualified people it is frustrating that because they fall short by a small amount they don’t get the work. If local companies got the work, they would buy their supplies locally, and get there workers locally. Mr. Bilotta stated that the PLA should not put a large cost on the tax payer. For example if you were going to put in a sidewalk, and a wood frame was needed, would you have to then hire a carpenter. On a job where you have to employee other trades, the general contractor who would normally do the work with his own crew, would have to sub that

work out or bring in more unions to do it. That is going to reflect a greater cost when you bid the job, and that cost is going to be passed on the tax payers. Mr. Doyle responded that on the jobs such as

highway work etc., he and the operating agent would protect them from that and with the larger building jobs, the other trades are already there. Mr. Bilotta stated that they have not had any problems with the other trades coming in because they have been protected by the Operating Engineers and the Teamsters, but who’s to say how long that will last. Mr. Doyle stated that the other unions know who does what. If there is a problem over who’s jurisdiction it is, keep in mind that the meetings are held in his office and he is going to make the decision of who it belongs to. Co-Chair Stewart -Cousins asked what is going on as far as bringing in women and minorities who have been excluded in the past. This is a major concern of hers. She wants to feel confident that people who have not had access to these jobs are now going to get it. Mr. Doyle stated that it is in the agreement. They are making sure everyone has the opportunity to get out there and work. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins also mentioned she would like to see more apprenticeships. Mr. Doyle stated that all the union building trades, electricians, plumbers, carpenters all have there own apprenticeship programs. The people that come from the outside don’t have these programs, we do. Mr. Vitagliano inquired as to whether or not the agreement itself has the information about the apprenticeships in it. Mr. Doyle stated that each trade runs its own apprenticeship program. Mr. Vitagliano asked if Mr. Doyle could get a packet together with the information in it. He went on to say that the purpose of this Task Force is to benefit the economic development of Westchester and keeping the business here is a big part of that. After Mr. Doyle left, the Task Force went on to have a brief discussion, reiterating their concerns. It was decided that they would meet again with Commissioner Landi to discuss this further. The meeting was set for Thursday September 11th at 2:30, pending the availability of Commissioner Landi.

Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins motioned to close the meeting at 4:15 and was seconded by Jay Bilotta. The motion was carried by a vote of 3-0.