The City Council last week gave its approval to allowing civilian traffic flaggers at area construction sites because of a shortage of uniformed help.
Mayor Melinda E. Barrett explained the city has had difficulty filling detail positions on construction sites. She said allowing civilian help “is an effort to expand the pool of people to do flagging and keep traffic moving around job sites.” Police Chief Robert P. Pistone said the ordinance “speaks for itself.”
“As we know, there’s a lot of construction going on in the city between the bridge that will be coming on next year, the Lupoli building—drive around the city, there’s construction everywhere,” he said. “We’re, quite frankly, not even able to fill using retirees or out of town officers to fill all of the details.”
The ordinance gives police officers a first right of refusal.
“If it’s not filled with them, through talking with the city solicitor, and we could put out an RFP [request for proposal] to some flagging companies and make sure they meet the provisions of this ordinance by way of training, insurance and liability and they would then hire flaggers,” he said.
Pistone said the goal is to have orderly traffic flow in the city.
Councilor Ralph T. Basiliere questioned whether city employees will be given second right of refusal before the town contracts with a flagging company. “My comment sir is that I would definitely prefer to see other union members who work in the city have their preference behind the police officers,” Basiliere said.
Pistone responded that a union for flaggers that are also city employees would need to be formed before other city union members are granted preference after officers. He said, “This certainly opens the door for the formation of that.”
Councilor Devan M. Ferreira asked whether contracted flagging companies would be local and whether it would provide opportunities for residents who want to work. Pistone responded, all are welcome to submit proposals. Barrett later clarified that she believes s request for proposals could include local preference language.
“It does open it up to other people. You can’t just hire somebody off the street for this. They need to have the appropriate training in emergency service-related fields,” she said.
According to the ordinance, flagging companies that contract with the city are required to hold workers’ compensation insurance of at least $500,000, as well as both general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance for at least $1 million.
The council unanimously approved the change.