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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD City Council President Bud Williams has asked the Law Department to research a home rule petition that would set mandatory hiring quotas for minorities and women on city projects. Williams' request came after a meeting on Oct. 14 with a group of local minority contractors and others who expressed concerns their companies are not being considered for contracts with the city. Williams told Reminder Publications the state requires on any project over $1.5 million that seven percent of the workers are minorities and four percent are women. Williams could not say at this time either the percentages or the budget cap would be on his legislation. The meeting last week was the second on the subject and Williams said he thought the issue had been settled at a previous meeting. Williams stressed that he supports awarding a project to the lowest bidder, but that he wants to see city residents given a chance for employment. He said he has been working on this issue since 1995 and wants to "level the playing field." Williams added the subject is important with projects such as the renovation of Putnam Vocational High School and a new fire station that are in the planning phase. Williams said he is hoping that Mayor Domenic Sarno and the Finance Control Board will speak to the city's private colleges and to Baystate Medical Center about using minority workers and subcontractors for upcoming construction. "I don't want to hear any excuses," Williams said. Steve Lisauskas, the executive director of the Finance Control Board, said the city currently has goals of minority hiring that are rarely met. The goals are not mandatory. Maria Lopez Santiago, the city's chief procurement officer, explained at last week's meeting the city uses a database of contractors to whom notices of bids are sent for projects under $25,000. She asked that companies go to www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/vendor.0.html and sign up. So far this fiscal year there have been 100 projects in this budget range, she said. Lisauskas said the city could make sure general contractors on larger projects could get these lists. The more complete and recent lists "increases that they are going to look at them." Carlos Gonzalez, the president of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, said there has been resistance from the city to reach out to business groups such as his. Lopez denied there has been any resistance. "At the end of the day all we are looking for is out fair share," Williams said. "We're not looking for a handout." |