Public Hearing Regarding Utica’s Union Contracts

Utica, NY (WIBX) - A public hearing on a proposed law that would make it mandatory for the Utica Common Council to approve, by majority vote, all Union contracts within the city was held Tuesday Night at Utica's City Hall.

Under the current law, all union contracts that deal with salaries and benefits are negotiated and approved without the Common Council's input, however the law's sponsors, Councilman-at-Large James Zecca and 1st District Councilman Frank Vescera, would like this issue to go before city residents in a referendum vote this coming November. 

Mayor Palmieri is expected to veto this attempt to amend the City Charter. "I'm hear to listen to the people and see what they are saying, but I don't know if adding another layer of government is the right way to go at this time" said Mayor Palmieri.

About 25 people showed up for the public hearing, city resident Larry Tanoury, Jr. believes the mayor will veto this attempt to change the process. "He (the Mayor) complains about how we got here and the positions that he was put into, yet he's promoting the exact same policies that got us to that position", said Tanoury, Jr. According to Mayor Palmieri, two members of the Common Council are involved with the process, Finance Committee Chair Ed Bucciero and Council president Bill Moorehouse.