Metro Nashville City Council is considering the imposition of sweeping regulations over construction, specifically the procurement code and industry standards. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Greater Tennessee Chapter issued a press release formally opposing the legislation.
In part, the bill would extend direct employment to all temporary workers that are hired onto a Metro Nashville project for at least 30 days. It would also require that all contractors allow Metro-appointed, third-party entities to ensure compliance with the bill.
In a press release shared with The Tennessee Star, ABC argued that Metro Council’s relied on non-objective and unsubstantiated data, and that these impositions would drive construction costs “through the roof.” ABC Greater Tennessee Chapter President and CEO Clay Crownover predicted that the legislation would end up hurting the city as well, by limiting the ability for officials to obtain construction contractors to do their work.
“This legislation hurts the very people it is intended to help, the workers of Nashville. The legislation invades the privacy of local workers and requires compliance with extreme safety standards that are undefined, do not currently exist, and for which Metro is without authority to promulgate,” stated Crownover. “It will increase construction costs for the city and kill construction jobs. Safety and fairness in contracts are our members’ number one priority and mission, but in accomplishing this goal, this legislation monumentally gets it wrong.”
Crownover accused the council of stifling growth and recapturing the market share. He said that this would only result in the loss of local Nashville construction jobs.
Status information on the legislation states that it is currently on second reading. 18 council members are listed as sponsors on the legislation – if advanced to the third and final reading, it would only need 21 votes to pass.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
The lunacy council continues its destruction of Nashville. Time for communities imprisoned by this group to strive for de-annexation from the Davidson County swamp.