Collier Approves Public Works Contract

For nearly three years, the Collier Public Works Department has been without a labor contract. But finally, appears to be over.

The Collier Township Board of Commissioners called a special meeting Wednesday night . It passed unanimously, and will now be given back to the Public Works Union, Local 249, in the next week for consideration.

The board expects the official contract to be signed within a month. When the contract is signed in late October or early November, the Public Works Department will receive back pay in the amount of $1,768 for their work during 2009-2010.

In addition, the public works crew will see an increase in their wages in the following years. Beginning in 2012 and continuing until 2013, workers will receive a 3 percent increase. In 2014 it will increase to 3.5 percent, and in 2015 it will go up to 4 percent. The contract expires on Dec. 31, 2015.

The other big issue of the contract was health care. With the new agreement, the Public Works Department will have a new benefits program, but they will also have to start contributing payments towards it in 2013.

It is now up to Local 249 to decide on the specific plan.

 “I think there was a good intent on both sides, but it always takes two to come to an agreement,” said Bob Schuler, the president of the . “We were just a little bit apart. The big issue was the health insurance, and it’s finally been resolved. Everybody’s happy.”

Also during the meeting…

The other topic of the night was requesting permission to apply for a grant from the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County. This motion was also approved, and will allow staff to get the application in before the September deadline.

The grant, which would be a maximum amount of $250,000 and would be matched with $220,000 from Collier’s own fund, would be used for demolishing ten buildings on the old Charles E. Kelly Support Facility.

The township is close to having final receipt of the 70-acre site, with the condition that they promise to use the area for parks and recreation.

“There’s a number of buildings up there that were probably built in the 30’s or 40’s or 50’s and they would come down,” Schuler said. “We have some plans in terms of making ball fields there and different activities. It will be a nice asset for the community.”

The township plans on leaving some buildings on the site, such as the community center and fitness building, as they would like to continue to improve these venues. However, places such as the administrative building, kitchen building, and barracks will all have to go.