'Hybrid' police merit rules pass council

The council approved changes to Terre Haute’s “responsible bidder ordinance,” which proponents say would help ensure city public works projects use the best qualified workers and that contracts that bid are “using the same level playing field.”

The council first adopted a responsible bidder ordinance in 2010 Under the changes, bidders on city public works projects “shall provide evidence of participation in apprenticeship and training programs … which are approved by and registered with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, or its successor organization.”

The changes would apply to any general contractor bidding on a city public works project, as well as subcontractors, he said.

The tougher language also should help ensure local bidders are awarded the contracts, Joe Bolk, business manager for Laborers Local 204, said previously.

While the changes mean contractors would have to have registered apprenticeship programs, the changes don’t require that union labor be used, advocates say.

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