The meeting entailed with a lot of discussion on the need for the legislation with very little objections to amending language being discussed. PUCA members expressed concern with withholding beyond legal retainage limits and the fact that the amended language provides that the party at fault will bear the costs of the dispute.
PUCA Reasoning: “We’re going to spend our money [on litigation to force payment] and I’m going to go sue them…Under the new law if you [the project owner] don’t do it you owe me, [and] your going to owe… [attorney fees].” Hear it in their words
PUCA philosophy: “We believe the public will save money by having standardization in the law and guidelines for us to work with that we all know what they are…just basics [standards]…there will be a savings.”
“There is a proven factor that when the FAR was written and the risk or the clearness was added to the way contracting was done, contracting costs came down for the Federal Government. We believe that is the case that would happen here.”
“In every case, when we go for money, when we try to generate funds to do this work, everybody says the same thing – why are you asking for money? – why don’t you get more efficient - what can you do to make this $50 million lay more pipe?…one of the ways is to write a law… that makes it so that we don’t have to build the risks into the job…and that’s what we’re trying to do here.” Hear it in their words
The meeting ended with a difference of philosophy, but a willingness to continue to work on finding a common ground to improve the current Procurement Code law.
Municipal Authority Compromise: “I’m certainly open to the idea of some standardization …if the standardization is accomplished via some sort of industry endorsed type of contract method be it AIA, EJCDC…” Hear it in their words
After a drive from State College to Pittsburgh, Brenda attended the Southwest District meeting in Penn Hills. Those members that attended the meeting learned about Prevailing Wage Profit Sharing Plans. Starrr Products, a new PUCA affinity program, talked about OSHA Regulations on slings and straps. PUCA members are offered discount prices on slings and straps through the PUCA website – watch for Starr Products logo above a PUCAperk header on the PUCA homepage.
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