UPDATE: includes ordinance language
. East End City Councilman Ernie Newton says he’s finalizing language with the City Attorney’s Office to formulate an ordinance requiring developers seeking City Council approval on projects to make Bridgeporters 25 percent of the work force. What started initially as a resolution will be submitted as an ordinance. Unclear what force of law this would have but Newton declares “All we do now is take the word of people who come before us. Now we are holding them accountable that at least 25 percent are Bridgeport residents.”
The Ordinance Committee is scheduled to take up this proposal Thursday, 6 p.m. in Wheeler Room A of City Hall. Newton says a public hearing will be scheduled. If the proposed ordinance is passed it will be monitored by the Office of Contract Compliance.
“All we’re are saying is hire Bridgeport first,” adds Newton. “When developers come in there’s no way of monitoring who they hired. This ordinance says hire 25 percent Bridgeport residents and 5 percent ex felons. It allows us to know they are hiring people from Bridgeport. It will build a true middle class group of people.”
Moving forward Newton said the ordinance would be applied to a developer seeking, for instance, council approval on a land disposition agreement with the city.
Newton, who’s made a political comeback following his conviction on public corruption charges while a state legislator 15 years ago, helps transition former offenders to the work force for Bridgeport-based Career Resources, the workforce development organization.
Ordinance Committee agenda here.
Ordinance language
NEW AMENDED:
3.29 – Employment Opportunities with Developers Fostering Economic Development
For purposes of this Title 3. “Developers Fostering Economic Development” means those developers engaging in projects within the municipal boundaries of the city for which said developer has (1)(a) obtained any city incentive or inducement for said development under Chapters 3.20. 3.24. and/or 3.28 of this Code. and/or (1 )(b) has or will acquire city owned real property as part of the project for less fifty (50%) percent of its fair market value as listed in the city’s tax assessor’s office at the time of acquisition. and (2) for which project developer has indicated that said project will result in an increase in jobs, either as to the developer’s own work force, or those of the second tier on the project.
3.29.010 – Contract Provisions
A. All municipal contracting agencies shall include in every agreement hereafter entered into with a Developer Fostering Economic Development, except for those exempted in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.12.060. the following provisions:
“The developer agrees and warrants that during the development of this project pursuant to the terms of this agreement, that first consideration of any additional employment of tradesmen/tradeswomen and/or any apprentices to be working on this project will be given to qualified applicants who are residents of the city and/or who are ex-felons of any category to the maximum greatest extent that any increase in workforce or apprenticeships as a result of this project meets the minimum requirements of twenty (20%) percent local resident hires and five (5%) percent ex-felon hires. The hiring or apprenticeship of an individual who is both a
local resident and an ex-felon shall only count as either of one such hire. The developer warrants and represents that it will not replace any of its current workforce as a result of this requirement. ”B. The developer shall include the language set forth above in section A. in every trades subcontract to the project. The developer shall post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices encouraging local residents and ex- felons to apply. The developer will send to each labor union or other representative with which he has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice to be provided advising the labor union or workers’ representative of the developer’s commitments under this division. and shall post copies of such notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment.
c. The developer will provide the office of contract compliance [deleted Compliance Committee]established under Municipal Code Sec. 3.12.130 with such information requested by said office [deleted or Committee] concerning the employment pattern, practices and procedures of the developer as relate to the provisions of subsections A and B of this section and any rules and regulations and/or orders issued pursuant thereto.
D. Prior to seeking a building permit for the project.developer shall meet with the office of contract compliance with paperwork sufficient to establish developer’s satisfaction of this requirement. or documentation sufficient to the office of contract compliance for said office to issue a waiver of this requirement for good cause shown.
An interesting concept. Enforcement would be difficult. I am not a lawyer, I wonder if it would survive a legal challenge. Good on Councilman Newton for trying.
DC we have a contracts compliance officer who will handel it
Nothing new here, this is standard policy in most large cities, felons would have to show that they have been doing positive things like employment and community work.
Ron you are right nothing new,but Bridgeport has never held Developer accountable.This Ordinance will put Bridgeport residence first. It also said to Unions who have (PLA)Tradesmen/Tradeswomen and/or any apprentices to be working on this project will be given to qualified applicants 20% city residents 5% ex-felons.
That’s nice,Ernie. The bigger question is getting development/re-investment in Bridgeport. The biggest area of re-development/re-investment is remodeling the huge amount of multi-family buildings in BPT. What say you, Councilperson Ernest Newton?????
Development of the Majestic theater building should be starting soon, then the Dave &Busters building, and let’s not forget the luxury movie theaters at Steelpoint.Haha
I could be wrong on this but Dave & Busters decided to go to Milford. Plans for hotel and luxury movie theater were also scrapped.
If I am wrong can someone who knows set the record straight?
D & B to Milford since the mall was in “move in condition,” movie theater still coming, just smaller. Hotel still in the works.
String,my post was tongue in cheek,I doubt any of those development deals actually happen.Seems like the only “development” Bpt gets is housing developments,and the want tax breaks to build them.
*** I like the proposal Ernie, 25% is not a lot to ask for when dealing with new construction of future development’s in Bpt. Jobs are a big need in urban cities that have many residents looking for jobs in general. Big ups Ernie, hope it goes through. ***
Councilperson Ernest Newton….. I am ready to say this!!! You are a fake and a phoney. You are not fooling us.
FRANK You can say What You like all i know since I’ve been on the council things are happening. WPCA,The minority small Business Ordinance strengthen and Hire Bridgeport Residence and ex-felons.20% and 5% YOU and RON MACKEY will never give someone credit unless they agree with you. Just remember you all didn’t Elect me.
Ernie, is this about you getting credit or providing employment for City residents?
RON I don:t need credit From you. I know Bridgeport has never held developer accountable we have always taken their word.I have something that Bro. Day gave me something dealing with the civil service which i;m still working on
*** Keep your head-up Ernest & do the best you can with what you have to work with. You will always have negative detractors poking holes @ whatever your involved with due to your past criminal history & activist concerns in the black community. Focus on your work & plans for your district & the people of Bpt. & the rest will follow providing your in the right! I have not always agreed with your politics or individual community concerns however you know the fundamental basic guidelines towards positive political urban change for Bpt. *** REMEMBER,OPINIONS ARE LIKE BUTT-HOLES EVERYBODY HAS ONE!***
Let me rephrase my statement. Is this legal? Has the City’s Attorney rendered a judgement on this proposed ordinance? Others have asked if it’s enforceable? Is it possible that such an ordinance actual deter business from moving to BPT. If it’s any of the above then this political grandstanding rather than an ordinance that will help the BPT community. As we hear so often,time will tell.
Frank we have a legal statement from our city attorney office which helped in drafting the language along with OPED Dept.The office of contracts compliance who’s job it is to in force. Companies should have no problems in hiring Bridgeport residents. Frank i see that no matter what someone tries to do. You always look at the negative side.
Thanks for responding,Ernie.
We have an Ordinance meeting on Thursday 6pm we will amend our resolution with New language and at Our September City Council meeting. WE will hold a public hearing at 530pm and vote on it that Night.
Good luck With that Ernie. A couple of years ago the ordinance Committee signed a paper demanding that the zoning board reject Willinger and Defilippos attempt at changing the liquor zoning rules. Everyone knows what happened with that. You and others on the council, the entire school board, the NRZ and numerous others were all there that night asking them (for all good reasons) to deny. As a common council member you should know that this was a dirty deed accomplished by a newly elected council member. Everyone has read the article in the editorial and the “thumbs up” section of the post and knows that the only way to get things done is to have it Approved” by certain people in Bridgeport who control what goes on. So good luck with the committee and hopefully we will see you at the zoning board hearing when Defilippo and Willinger appear to re-apply for his permit.
Glad you are still fighting, Rich, as democracy continues its struggle to survive in Bridgeport!
Lol. Thanks Bob! Actually I have a more stronger feeling now then ever before that we will prevail!!
HAHA, The “Battle of Bridgeport”
Ernie, there are a number of problems with hiring City residents for City jobs where the taxpayers of Bridgeport are paying their salary. How come the Bridgeport Fire Department has NOT HIRED ANY female, no white, black, Hispanic or any other ethnic group. Now the Bridgeport Fire Department does have females and they perform their task like anybody else, so why Ernie are there no women being hired, the last woman hired was eleven years ago, why?
RON you have a Fire Commission and you have The Firebirds Society. You should be asking them Why Women aren’t being hired. I will say this While you and Don where on the fire department you fought to make sure the department looked like the residence of Bridgeport. Remember i was City Council President when the Firebirds settle its lawsuit that the prior administration didn’t want to settle!
Ernie, we are talking about taxpayers money in which the City Council votes to approve their budget and you have the fire department discriminating candidates because they are women and you are saying that this is none of your business?
I might not agree with everything newton has done but he is always at every bridgeport event I’ve gone to seen him at downtown Thursdays and seen him at the last one at seaside park last week. You don’t see none of these other politicians at these bpt events. I think having at least 25percent is a good start.
Donj, one morning I sat at my kitchen table and was pouring cereal into a bowl when all of a sudden, Ernie Newton came slidding right out of the box of cereal.
Obviously the proper percentage of minorities (all) are on the fire department, You can bet your ass if the numbers were out of order Day and Mackey would let everyone know.
Ernie how many broom attendants will be needed at each project
You know the min reason for the lack of minority hiring is the physical agility test that is held upstate. The minorities dont have the money it costs to get there nor the cost of the physical test. BTW I am against the test because there is no follow up and some of these guys get so fat they cant tie there shoes
No Andy to the contrary, there was a class put on the BFD that had no black’s for the first time since 1976. Every class since Dunn became civil Service director 11 years ago, the number of black’s hired has fallen dramatically. No women hired in the last 11 years for the first time since 1986, again under the direction of David Dunn.
Mackey and I have talked about this,in this forum, for years. We are the architects of preference points for Bridgeport residents and we think all BFD jobs should be for Bridgeport residents. You live here, you were educated here, you pay taxes here, you spend your money here, you should get city jobs over anyone else that don’t meet those criteria. Ernie, to you, no one cares about hiring our people more than we do and that includes the Firebird Society. People tell me that it’s human nature not to care as much if something isn’t for your benefit, which is foriegn to Brother Mackey and I.
DON I agree one hundred percent this is why i put this ordinance in to hire Bridgeport first. But because its not Fire or police Ron doesn’t care about hiring Bridgeport residents unless its POLICE AND FIRE! just help me understand what is the role of the fire commissioners and the Firebirds its it to fight for equity and justice in the department.don the information you shared with me is NEXT!
Ernie, C’MON MAN, Don spelled it out where my position is. I bought taxpayers money where the City Council and the mayor have a direct connection of where City tax dollars goes and who is employ and receive those tax dollars in salary of City employees. Hiring City residents is a win, win for the City and it’s legal.
The late State Senator Alvin Penn, was the City’s Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director and before Alvin Republican Joe Langston held the position during Mayor Mary Moran one term in office. The 25% figure was placed in plus reports were require not only for business doing business with the City that were getting tax breaks but also City departments had to list their hiring by race, color, ethnicity, age or gender but Alvin Penn was not from the was not apart the city’s African American political establishment of Charlie Tisdale, instead Alvin learn in Boston from where he came from to Bridgeport. A move was made on Senator Penn to take power from him and his position of the City’s Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director was eliminated and the City’s black leadership did nothing.
You raise the subject of Civil Service. The question of why ACTING positions in the staffing of City positions has been a constant for years now. Civil Service with David Dunn as acting director has been seeking a permanent director for more than 10 years? If not what is the story from Ganim2 office. Code enforcement or contract enforcement stops in the Mayor’s office. There is an answer there or not.
And if they bother to have an answer, perhaps they can explain why the Chair of that Civil Service Commission continues to be a resident of Trumbull, who votes in Trumbull but has had her hands in City affairs for years. Enforcement? Are you kidding? TIME WILL TELL.
JML, no one will bring up the question to Mayor Ganim about David Dunn and the City Council has no concern what so ever that there is a Civil Service position that calls for a nationwide search and for the Personnel Director the same that they must do for the police and fire chief that’s in the City Charter. The City Council has the power to ask questions of all department heads.
I just have one word to say! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184 🙂
It is mindboggeling how many cops and fireman are not residents of Bridgeport but work here. Would someone know that number? I will take a wild guess that 85-90% of the white don’t
Yes, it was very fair when cops and firemen were required to live in the City. It strengthened our nneighborhoods and our economy.
Ernie is on-target… The 25% figure is reasonable. The mandate should be statutory and contractual, with a provision for training opportunities to assure fulfillment of the 25% number… PSE&G signed-on to a phony, unenforceable deal that they never had any intention of honoring… The effect and context of that “agreement” made all involved on the City and Community side look either stupid, or complicit in PSE&G’s deceit… The effect of that deceitful agreement on the community was tantamount to criminal economic and environmental exploitation of the City and the Community… (Who was looking out for our interest in that agreement? Our councilpersons?! Our state delegation?! City Hall?!
Ernie is right. We need a statutory provision in Bridgeport law and business-practice/economic development policy to mandate the hiring and training of Bridgeport people for all construction and permanent jobs involved in Bridgeport projects… And really, such local ordinances should be supported by state and federal statute… Our state and federal delegation should be involved with this… If businesses want state, federal, and local grants and allowances to locate and do business in a municipality, then they should have a local-hiring-percentage mandate…
In order to have a good minority representation in the police and fire department you need more minorities apply for the job. A candidate can be dropped from the process for many reasons, if you don’t have a high turn out you may loose most or all of the candidates you have. This would look like the city has not hired any minorities but that is not the case.
You don’t want to change the process to get the numbers you want, that would not be fair to the other candidates who do pass. Resident and military points can help. The bottom line if want more minority representation you have to get more to apply and pass the application steps along the way.
Civil service should post the number of minorities that applied for the police and fire departments. Then post the list that passed and were selected. This way you can see how many did not pass the process to how many applied.
You are way off, what you are saying is the old way that got the City in court in the first place.
Ok Ron,
With all things being equal beside better minority recruitmentwhat would improve minority hiring?
Resident and military points apply to those who live here those who served or both. The test is the same as the agility test based on age.
Am I missing something?
Yes you are, you are missing a lot. First, you have David Dunn who is the “Acting” Personnel Director has NEVER taken any exam to hold the position that he’s in. The City needs to do a nationwide search for the best person who is giving all of the civil service exams. What are the ability of the testing companies who give these exam to give non discrimintor exams for a City like Bridgeport’s population and make-up, what are record on hiring people of color and women?
I felt bad for Frank and Lisa. 🙂 An ordinance that probably is not legally enforcible and if so probably well never be enforced or be circumvented. Like on construction. You can’t build a strong middle class if once the building is built those enforced 25% employees gets laid off. The need to force on this, yes it helpful if it’s true to its intent but mostly its something that sounds pleasing, meaningful, but lets not let it distract you form the real issue, the type of development that brings strong jobs and builds a stronger Bridgeport. At the end of the day that 500 million gas power plant is going to employ just 21 permanent jobs. Under this “plan” that’s just 5 Bridgeport residents. Focus people. http://connecticut.news12.com/clip/14521356/part-of-bridgeport-nursing-home-closing-after-raid
ROB sometimes i cant believe what comes out of your mouth sometimes.This ordinance will have a great impact on how we do business as it pertains to developers and unions making sure bridgeport residents are hired.
Ernie, I strongly suggest that you don’t follow-up on Robert Teixeira, I’ve made this suggestion to others who are serious about issues, following this guy down a rabbit hole is not worth the time.
First I said I felt bad for Frank and Lisa because this post was rewritten because of grammar skills that was deleted.:) Ernie what are you talkin about you can’t believe what comes out of my mouth. You a have a problem with the truth? 🙂 A, this ordinance will not have a great impact on how Bridgeport dose business because out of your own mouth,”Unclear what force of law this would have but Newton declares “All we do now is take the word of people who come before us. Now we are holding them accountable that at least 25 percent are Bridgeport residents.” who is WE? 🙂 Please tell me what development will have a better impact on the East End residents in regard of employment and quality of life, a senior home or a Stop & Shop grocery store? The question is do you believe what comes out of your mouth. “That Jesus had hair as wool and his feet had the color of bronze so that would have made him a Black Man!” Either you failed to read the actual passage or you were race bating. Either way as a man who invokes GOD office, Jesus must be proud. 🙂
RON I’m SORRY I DIDN’T take YOUR ADVISE when you told me not to waste my time with trying to have a conversation with someone who knows everything! I’ll just keep doing what i think will make a change in BRIDGEPORT!
Like you not taken Ron’s advise no company is going to take
your ordinance. That’s part of the problem no one listen and very few actual care for their neighbor, because the grass is always greener on the other side. I ask you a very specific development question regarding your back yard. What will better serve the East End a senior housing or a Stop & Shop. Which one are you backing? It is not that I know everything. You know someone actually try to teach me that Jesus’s was like wool and his feet were bronze. 🙂 i stand by my sentiment regarding our conversation if the mount trashmore site is developed with senior house over an employment, need Stop & Shop the East End go screwed. Are you going to let that happen? Consider Joe owes the East End for his come back. A stop and shop can not be that hard to acheive. He got one in the North End and they didn’t want it or needed it. This is all on you Ernie. I may not know what you are taking about when you say one is coming in our civil block that black is not vacant and suitable to host a lager grocery story .Please tell me what is the civil block and how many employees that company who is interest in opening it in your civil block?
This is a city Ordinance not just the EASTEND!
In this case,Robert Teixara does make a good point.
But Teixara went off the rails with that second posting.
Frank Like crazy train. 🙂 https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=SLBRDF&PC=SL08&q=crazt+train
WE Just got some great news.Metro Cog Director of DOT has accepted a proposal to get started on the 2-way study for stratford ave and connecticut ave. Our city Council earmarked 300,000K to look at bike-lanes bump-out, pedestrians safety and business access the whole bit. We must create traffic so Our Civic block can support the new development. special thanks to everyone who made this happen. Our state Rep Baker NRZ OPED and our City Councilwoman Martinez and myself.
COACH I GAVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DO!
$300,000 to “look at bike lanes and buisness access on Stratford and Connecticut Ave,meanwhile kids have to walk 2 miles to school because the city”doesn’t have the money.I’m speechless,truthfully.
HarveyWeintraub,Great point. There was an article in the Connecticut Post about a protest demonstration in front of City Hall about that same issue.
://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Bridgeport-students-protest-length-conditions-of-13186313.php?utm_source=news
300,000 study. They are two street missing a yellow line in the middle of them. A gallon of paint $25. 🙂 study over. SMBH
you always have to make sure you pat your own back. You have always and will continue to be that way….look what i did, i
Let me say this one more time for the thousandth time, the Bridgeport Fire Department hasn’t had a problem recruiting and hiring Black’s for the fire service for the last 36 years until David Dunn became Director of the Civil Service. The Bridgeport Fire Department hasn’t had a problem recruiting and hiring women for the fire Service in 30 years until David Dunn became Director of the Civil Service. This is no accident nor a coincidence, this is by design based on the new policies implemented by the so called Director of Civil Service David Dunn.
Those are unequivocal facts and the facts are the facts. Bill Finch put an individual in charge of Civil Service that had absolutely no experience whatsoever in Civil Service management and Mayor Ganim left him in that position for 11 years to the detriment of Black’s and women that aspire to be firefighters. Both Mayor’s Finch and Ganim left him in this position so that they could use the Civil Service as their political patronage system for jobs for their political loyalists.
There’s no need to change the system of hiring if it wasn’t broken and to correct this glaring problem can be done tomorrow, with the firing of David Dunn.
This is not directly part of the discussion but I have found the City Council Agendas as shown above do not give the complete information. It does show what will be discussed but the agenda does not show the exact language of the proposals(ordinances,resolutions etc) being proposed. Does one need to go to the City Clerks office beforehand to see the actual wording of what is being proposed and/or being voted upon?
Frank it dose not show Language because at our next ordinance meeting on August 30th at 6pm. I will amend the resolution with the new language. i sent a copy to Lennie hoping he would put it up for all the naysayer like you and RON! O Ron what you posted has nothing to do with my ordinance. We will have a public hearing on September 4, at 5;30 and vote on it that night. Frank all my bases are COVERED!
Ernie, the point of that post was to show what is in the City Charter and the fact that the City of Bridgeport had the City’s Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director in place to monitor and to have the records of those contracts and the hiring in each City department. Why was this office eliminated and who is the monitor of hiring?
Okay,Ernie. At the same CC sub- committee there is a line(57-17) concerning utilities,past due bills and delinquencies). I am assuming this concerns the WPCA. How would an ordinary Bridgeport resident be informed about the exact language of that specific proposal BEFORE the actual subcommittee event.
Chapter 2.24 – OFFICE OF CONTRACT COMPLIANC
E3.12.130 – Minority business enterprise program.D.
Establishment of Race, Local, and Gender-Conscious Remedies.
1. Formal Prime Contract Remedies.
a. Competitive Bids. An attainable goal of thirty (30) percent of the aggregate dollar value of each formal city contract (goal of fifteen (15) percent of the contract value to MBEs and goal of fifteen (15) percent to WBEs).
b. Qualifications-Based Selections. An attainable goal of thirty (30) percent of the aggregate dollar value of a city contract is established for prime contractor utilization of certain target groups during QBS processes. For purposes of this subsection, the target groups that should receive evaluation credits are:
i. City contracts for construction professionals: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, minority female, and Caucasian female business enterprises.
ii. City contracts for architecture and engineering professionals: Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Caucasian females.
iii. City contracts for other professional services: Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, minority female, and Caucasian female business enterprises.
iv. City contracts for goods and nonprofessional services: African Americans, minority female, and Caucasian female business enterprises.
Hmmm.Ron Mackey just posted part of the City Charter and it seems that there is already an ordinance existing that addresses minority hiring for Bridgeport projects. So,is this “new” ordinance redundant? The only extension may be to include ex-felons.
So the real question is;Is the City enforcing this ordinance and if not,why not?
Ok. Ernie’s ordinance extend the present Charter language to include City of BPT residents.
Frank, that’s one of my main concern. I’m glad that Ernie Newton is addressing this issue but I’ve asked your question a number of times, who’s checking those being hired right now. Creating another ordinance and there’s no accountability on what is in the charter is a big problem. No one has yet to address the question of why the City of Bridgeport had the City’s Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director was eliminated and who is the monitor of hiring and who will monitor this new ordinance?
Good question Ron. I was present and voting when my then colleagues cut the Affirmative Action position from the budget. The vote was 19 to one. Guess who the one vote was to keep it??????
No Frank Its two different things My ordinance deals with hiring for jobs not construction we made changes this year to strength those provision. This deals with when companies come in and say we are going to hire a 1000 people we want to make sure that 20% go to Bridgeport Residents and 5% to Ex-felons that all!
Ernie that great, but it’s finding a company who is going to invest and hire those 1000 people. like I said lets force on the development. 🙂 S&S or housing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184
Ernie at the end of the day you have some decent size lots with potential to revitalize that neighborhood. It’s either going commercial that bring employment and enhances the neighborhood and the East End as a whole or housing. Which I sense you are in favor for because you circumvented my suggestion commercial development specifically a grocery store that the East End needs. I hope God uses you well. THE END https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6IRuDsoRaU
Frank what you are talking about is minority set a sides for minority contractors. Which Ron stated clear in his post.
Ok. Got it!
Ernie, Mackey is absolutely correct when he says that the office that was in charge of compliance was discontinued. Who is watching the hiring henhouse to see that companies are indeed complying with the 20% hiring of residents, the companies themselves or…. What we know for a fact, it won’t be the City’s Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director because that NO LONGER EXISTS.
Never happen. Mark my words. Ganim will circumvent council approval or bypass it this one time or whatever it takes he will not abide by this. Mark My Words.
Bob, sad but true Hamilton Burger will block it.
Again,we are going to spend $300,000 for a study to see if bike lanes and buisness access will be viable on Stratford &Connecticut aves,while our kids have to walk miles to school because the city can’t afford the bussing??..You know what’s going to happen when winter comes and the temps are in the single digits,or we have a blizzard and the sidewalks aren’t all clear by the time schools are open again??..Those kids who are forced to walk,will stay home,that’s what.But at least we’ll have bike paths on Stratford ave.Unbelieveable..And Ernie is on here announcing it like some great thing.Holy Christ,Bpt,we are doomed.
Hypothetically, if this goal was somehow doable and becomes real, my concern is that there will be more patronage jobs to give out by the City. They will do it; regrettably, the unions will play ball so long as the employees join the Union.
Lisa, Donald and myself have listed above why this Ordinance won’t work because there’s no enforcement power.
Lisa, I want to thank you for your post about the late State Senator Alvin Penn. Nobody else said anything on OIB when I asked the question of why the City of Bridgeport had the City’s Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director was eliminated and who is the monitor of hiring and who will monitor this new ordinance? Thank you Lisa,
Lisa Parziale // Aug 30, 2018 at 7:16 am
Good question Ron. I was present and voting when my then colleagues cut the Affirmative Action position from the budget. The vote was 19 to one. Guess who the one vote was to keep it??????
UP-DATE Ordinance Committee meeting tonight at 6pm. It has been brought to my attention that the public hearing i wanted to schedule before our council meeting on the 4th of september has to happen on the 17th because we have to give the public notice.
PS The city of Bridgeport contract compliance is run by Michelle Otero who along with Mr.Gee who runs The office of Small&Minority Business Enterprise will assist in the Monitoring of this ordinance.
So why haven’t they enforce what’s in the City Charter now?
Ernie, are you providing a draft ordinance as required for proposing a new or amended ordinance or a resolution that you and the members of the ordinance committee expect to magically transform to an ordinance?
YES TOM I will amend it at committee meeting to night. You are welcome to come bye and get a copy!
Hope to see Donald Day, Ron Mackey, Frank Gyure, Robert Teixeira,and my Sister Lisa Parziale. My sister will tell you I’m not New to this, I’m true to this. See you all tonight.
You will not see me tonight. I have class. Working On my ESL Grammar, Tropic Thunder style. 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6WHBO_Qc-Q
YES PLEASE GO TO YOUR ESL CLASS! Because you may learn something lol.
Ernie’ stay the hell away from my boxes of cereal.
The position of Affirmative Action Director/Contract Compliance Director was eliminated because it was not supported by charter or ordinance. The position had no job description or authority and was window dressing created to give Alvin Penn a position.
Since its inception, directors of the Minority Business Enterprise Program have been political appointees with no qualifications or experience in contract compliance.
Republican Joe Langston held the position during Mayor Mary Moran one term in office.
And so did Bishop Plummer under Tom Bucci
Ernie, Bishop Walter Plummer was appointed by Republican mayor Lenny Paoletta, they were school friends.
Ernie, you have an ordinance in draft form or simply a resolution?
YES I do Work with city attorney Office and OPED!
Ernie, I’m waiting for when all Bridgeport Fire and Police Department jobs should be for Bridgeport residents. You live here, you were educated here, you pay taxes here, you spend your money here, you should get city jobs over anyone else that don’t meet those criteria.
Is there any update?
Ron, according to Ernie Newton, his proposed ordinance was approved in committee Thursday night. A public hearing will be scheduled and he anticipates a full vote by the council in October.
Lennie, thanks, hopefully the proposed ordinance will be posted on OIB ahead of time some that that public can review the proposed ordinance, I’m concern about the legality and the enforcement power of this the proposed ordinance.
Ron, I updated story to include proposed ordinance language provided by Newton. Scroll to bottom of article.
Lennie, thanks, I did see it but I’m wondering why haven’t some of the numbers listed for hiring have not been made public, here is an office but nobody can point to something that they have monitor and enforce.
Boy O Boy, this much ado about nothing. The term used that’s says the developer will just give first consideration to residents, not that the have to hire residents. I guess it’s better than nothing and if just one resident gets a job, I guess…
“The developer agrees and warrants that during the development of this project pursuant to the terms of this agreement, that first consideration of any additional employment of tradesmen/tradeswomen and/or any apprentices to be working on this project will be given to qualified applicants who are residents of the city and/or who are ex-felons.
Don, there must be more to this because Ernie kept saying the new the proposed ordinance was in the bank and there was nothing to worry about, so there must be more to this new proposed ordinance, time will tell (JML). I still want to know what the Office of Contract Compliance has been doing with enforcing any contracts on hiring.
To DON And RON First let me say nothing is wrong. It past committee 4-1 I wanted to have a public hearing before our council meeting on Next Tuesday but because of the holiday.Public notice by putting notice in the newspaper so we will have the public hearing before our next council meeting on the 17th of September.
Ernie, thanks but I still don’t see how proposed ordinance can be enforce and I haven’t seen anything where the Office of Contract Compliance has been doing with enforcing any contracts on hiring.
Ernie, once again I’m waiting for when all Bridgeport Fire and Police Department jobs should be for Bridgeport residents. You live here, you were educated here, you pay taxes here, you spend your money here, you should get city jobs over anyone else that don’t meet those criteria. More can be done to help the resident and taxpayers of Bridgeport by keeping taxpayers dollars right here in Bridgeport by paying Bridgeport residents instead of taking those same taxpayers dollars and paying someone who doesn’t reside in Bridgeport, Ernie, this is a no brainer and it’s legal. Remember those jobs will always be needed in Bridgeport where outside private businesses can come and go.
RON We are on the same page.Let me ask you a question until i got back on the City Council Name one State Senator, State REP or City Council Member who has spoken about hiring Bridgeport Residence and Ex-felons. DON share with me something and I’m working on it.Civil Service and our city attorney and myself are working on something that if pass it would be a game changer in hiring Bridgeport Police and firemen and other position in our City. I’ll be sharing it soon. I am not going to stop until Bridgeport FIRST!
Ernie, NOTHING will happen as long as David Dunn is Acting Personnel Director. For the record Preference Points and the Hiring of City Residents were a subject to ANY elected official until Donald Day and myself bought the information forward. What you is what Don and myself put together for the City when Mayor Ganim took office and the information was discuss with us and Rev. Stallworth and Wilbur Chapman.