VILLAS – Lower Township Council agreed Monday to put together a process that would allow residents to comment on collective bargaining contracts before the governing body gives their final approval.
Council discussed the possibility of using either an ordinance or two resolutions to allow the public to offer comments on proposed labor contracts
Township Solicitor Michael Donohue said, in his opinion, a proposed collective bargaining agreement should not be made public prior to a vote of Township Council. He said an ordinance would allow a vote of council before “any third party had the ability to review the proposal.”
Donohue said council’s vote would not be the final vote and an ordinance procedure would give the public two weeks to review the terms of the proposed contract. A time of public comment would be offered before council voted to adopt an ordinance approving a collective bargaining contract.
“This is not a common practice…” said Donohue, noting his research found only one other town that used such a process.
The township would not reprint the entire proposed labor contract in an ordinance but indicate it was on file in the clerk’s office and available to the public, he said.
Township Manager Michael Voll said six collective bargaining contracts were expiring.
Mayor Michael Beck, who brought up the topic of public comment on contracts at an earlier meeting, said he had concerns an ordinance could be overturned by a public referendum since it would not take effect for 20 days after being approved by council. He said that time period would allow for a group to gather signatures on petition requiring a referendum.
Beck said approximately 1,000 voter signatures on a petition would require the ordinance to appear on the ballot of the next general election or require a special election. He suggested using resolutions rather than an ordinance to allow public comment on contracts, which would avoid the possibility of a referendum.
The mayor suggested a proposed collective bargaining contract be made available on the township’s website four to five days before a vote by council.
Donohue said the chances of a voter referendum on an ordinance was a “remote” possibility. He suggested two resolutions could be used in place of an ordinance to get proposed contracts before the public with one resolution requiring public comment before final approval.
Beck said if Township Hall were filled with residents opposed to a proposed contract, it would give council the ability to gauge the public’s opinion on the matter.
Council concurred to move in the direction of using a two-step resolution process rather than an ordinance. Beck said unions needed to be notified of the new process for public comment.
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