<div dir="ltr">So, I get that you're talking about Katrina's request. <br><br>Should folks be paid a living wage? Absolutely. <br><br>I think that wages for town workers - particularly for water, wastewater, and highway, and mostly in smaller towns - are far less than they should be. <br>Compared to wages for commercial construction workers - especially those in union shops - town pay scales are (often) wanting.<br>As a result, it's sometimes very hard for towns to get and keep quality workers.<br><br>This is the greater concern from my standpoint.<br><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><br style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">- Doug.</span><br style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br clear="all" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Douglas Finn, Assistant<br>Edgartown Planning Board<div>70 Main Street, PO Box 5130<br>Edgartown, MA 02539</div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">508-627-6170<br></span><a href="mailto:dfinn@edgartown-ma.us" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">dfinn@edgartown-ma.us</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 9:54 AM Harry LaCortiglia via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Not really a Friday
Question but...</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Has anyone factored
in the long term human cost of sidestepping the prevailing
wage rate?</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">While there is
certainly a powerful argument for saving every last dime of
taxpayer monies as possible, perpetuating a race to the bottom
has dire consequences for those who work in the building
industries. Given that these individuals are frequently on the
lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder to begin with, are we
not becoming part of the problem by participating in schemes
that allow for the avoidance of the Prevailing Wage Laws? <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Should local
government employees (Planners, Economic Development
Co-ordinators, etc.) really be the driving force, and the
providers of a mechanism, to circumvent laws that were put
into place to ensure a that a living wage is paid to the
people who actually do this kind of work? <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">From a moral
perspective, how do we advocate and promote the idea of
driving wages down to the point where the person actually
making that sidewalk works all week long, but makes so little
that they qualify for food stamps?</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Aren't we supposed
to be looking at the big picture?</font></font></p>
<font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">H. LaCortiglia</font></font><br>
<font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Georgetown P.B.<br>
</font></font>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font><br>
</p>
<div>On 10/7/2021 3:51 PM, Paul Halkiotis
via MassPlanners wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<div>
</div>
<div>Hi Katri</div>
<div>I understand that prevailing wage rates are typically about
30% higher than nonunion/prevailing wage rates.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Paul Halkiotis, Director<br>
Planning & Economic Development<br>
566 Washington St. P.O. Box 40<br>
Norwood, MA 02062<br>
(781)915-4749</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<hr id="gmail-m_6766108867202948845zwchr">
<div><b>From: </b>"massplanners"
<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank"><massplanners@masscptc.org></a><br>
<b>To: </b>"massplanners" <a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank"><massplanners@masscptc.org></a><br>
<b>Sent: </b>Wednesday, October 6, 2021 11:19:56 AM<br>
<b>Subject: </b>[Massplanners] FW: Cost of Using Prevailing
Wage Rates<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does
anyone have an estimate for the % increase per linear foot
of constructing a 6 foot wide sidewalk with straight faced
granite curb using prevailing wage rates versus a private
entity constructing the sidewalks (not using prevailing
wage rates)? All I need is a ball park figure. If you
have an explanation for the ball park figure, all the
better. I am preparing for a town wide “Pedestrian
Summit” here in Middleton.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank
you!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Katrina O'Leary,
AICP
</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif">Middleton
Town Planner</span></b><b><span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif">195 North
Main Street Middleton, MA 01949 PH:
(978)777-8917</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8pt;color:rgb(36,64,97)">When responding,
please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of
State has determined that most email is public record
and, therefore, cannot be kept confidential.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<br>
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<br>
<fieldset></fieldset>
</blockquote>
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</blockquote></div>