Council Votes to Support Prevailing Wage Reform

A "prevailing wage" is defined as an hourly wage paid to a majority of workers within a particular area, acccording to Wikipedia. Prevailing wages are established by the Department of Labor & Industry as well as state departments of labor, an entry on the subject states.

In Pennsylvania, the law that requires prevailing wages to be paid to workers on projects totaling $25,000 or more has not been updated in nearly half a century. However, a proposed set of reforms being considered by the General Assembly would increase the threshold for prevailing wage projects to $185,000.

Currently, , and the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs is seeking support for the reforms from its members, Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline announced at Borough Council's Oct. 3 meeting.

Kichline said she wanted direction from council on the matter.

"It's a big expense," councilman Tom Rieger said of paying prevailing wages.

However, councilwoman Gail Nolf said she would oppose raising the threshold.

"I'm not in favor of that," she said.

Council voted on whether or not to symbolically support the reforms, and ultimately agreed to do so in spite of two abstentions and Nolf's "no" vote.

Council president Phil Weber and council vice president John Bate both abstained from the vote.