Ewing mayor vetoes apprentice training ordinance

Friday, January 29, 2010

By JOAN GALLER
Staff Writer

EWING — Mayor Jack Ball has vetoed the contractor responsibility ordinance approved this week by Township
Council, requiring job apprentice training for any projects $150,000 or higher that involve township buildings.

“It would hurt local small contractors,” Ball said yesterday in announcing his veto in a prepared statement, three days
after council approved the ordinance in a 3-2 vote.

Ball noted that Democratic Councilman Les Summiel, now council vice president, and Ball’s fellow Republican,
Councilman Donald Cox, also voted against the ordinance.

“It was a welcome sight to see bipartisan recognition that this ordinance was not in the best interests of Ewing
businesses or residents,” Ball said.

Four council votes are needed to override the mayor’s veto, and Ball said he hopes Cox and Summiel would continue
to oppose the ordinance.

The ordinance requires all bidders and all subcontractors on construction projects over $150,000 that involve
township buildings to participate in a Class A apprenticeship program for each separate trade or classification.

A Class A apprenticeship program is registered with and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state
apprenticeship agency, and has graduated apprentices to journeyperson status for at least three of the past five
years.

“I can see no benefit in this ordinance to the small construction businesses in Ewing,” Ball said. “Many of these
businesses have many skilled and experienced workers and would be disqualified merely because they do not have
a formal apprenticeship program.”

Ball said the ordinance appears “to protect big business outside of Ewing Township and the small business(es) who
need the help the most are getting hurt. It’s just not fair.”

All public construction contracts currently require that contractors be licensed, qualified, and pay prevailing wage, the
mayor noted. “To add this additional requirement is designed not to make more small businesses eligible to bid on
township projects but to eliminate them.”

Ball blasted the ordinance because “the state regulates the heck out of these businesses and they do not need Ewing
Township adding another burden on the little guy.”

This type of ordinance limits competition and is discriminatory, he continued, asking, “Why is there no recognition of
training provided in our community colleges, trade and technical schools?”
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