Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan on Wednesday criticized a new state law that bars communities from imposing hiring goals on contractors, saying it’s “disappointing and frustrating.”
He also said he will meet with state legislators to try to find alternatives for the city’s $1.4 billion, ongoing sewer project.
City leaders have pledged that as many Akron residents as possible would be hired for the sewer work, especially because local taxpayers are footing the bill.
In 2014, Akron set its hiring threshold at 30 percent. The requirement was to go up incrementally each year, reaching 50 percent in 2018.
But Gov. John Kasich last week signed House Bill 180, halting the city’s ability to keep that promise.
“As cities across the state strive to combat the institutional inequities in hiring practices for local workforces, we cannot be silent,” Horrigan said Wednesday in a prepared statement. “This ban harms the workers of the city and the mission of those elected and trusted by voters, especially those who are skilled laborers, to effectively reduce local unemployment.”
The law, which goes into effect 90 days from the signing, bars public authorities from requiring contractors to employ a certain percentage of individuals from a geographic area.
Contractors advocated for the law, saying hiring goals give an unfair advantage to workers in a municipality over those who happen to live elsewhere in the state.
Akron officials don’t believe the law will be retroactive and therefore won’t affect existing contracts.
Horrigan said he’d like to see an exemption granted to the city for the project.
State Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, had fought against the state bill and also sought an exemption for the city to be included.
She said she’s not sure what alternatives the city has now, other than continuing to seek an exemption or filing a lawsuit.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.