A public hearing has been set for February 17 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the grievances of local craftsman in Somerville against KSS Realty and Gale Residential Properties over bidding concerns for construction of the MaxPak site.- Photo by Andrew Firestone

Hearing set for Feb. 17

By Andrew Firestone

Local construction workers and builders will have a chance to make their case to be hired at the site of a 184 unit condominium this month.

A public hearing has been set for February 17 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the grievances of local craftsman in Somerville against KSS Realty and Gale Residential Properties over bidding concerns for construction of the MaxPak site.

The Board of Aldermen approved last week to schedule the hearing after being presented with a petition signed by 51 local laborers. Jack Lister of the Allied Workers Union Local 6 presented the petition.

“It was pretty obvious to them what was going on,” said Lister, who said the developers are shunning local workers in favor of outsourcing laborers from other areas, “and they were all for it until [the developers] got [approval for the project].”

The hearing will discuss local grievances over the snubbing of local bids for jobs in the construction of 184 residential units at the long-abandoned MaxPak site.

“We put this in because we wanted to see that working people got work,” said Desmond.  “Is there any way we can regulate the rest of it so they’re not coming from Canada?”

The hearing will mark a milestone in the battle over jobs at the MaxPak site. KSS Realty has received over $1 million in city funds and public grants for demolition of the old root beer factory and building of infrastructure.

Controversy has arisen due to KSS Realty’s non-binding agreement with the city to hire local workers. KSS Realty is accepting bids from cheaper non-union laborers, Lister said.

The hearing will also accept written testimony from those who will be unable to attend. Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan said he thought the hearing should be televised.