During a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around economic development and project bidding processes in Lackawanna County. The meeting highlighted concerns from local contractors regarding a project labor agreement (PLA) attached to the Lackawanna County prison re-roofing project. The director of operations at Eastern Roofing Systems expressed frustration that the PLA effectively excludes non-union contractors from bidding, which he argued limits competition and could inflate project costs. He referenced a letter from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, which stated that while PLAs are permissible, they should not prevent any contractor from participating in the bidding process.

In a separate but related discussion, Mike Gallagher, representing Holy Ridge Development, advocated for support from the county commissioners for a major housing project in Old Forge. Gallagher emphasized the economic benefits of the development, which includes approximately 200 townhouse and apartment units, and the potential tax revenue it could generate for the county. He urged the commissioners to consider a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) request, which would defer taxes on improvements for a period, thereby supporting the project's viability without immediate cost to the county.

Gallagher pointed out that previous developments, such as Birchwood Estates, had succeeded with similar assistance, and he questioned the commissioners' commitment to economic development given their lack of support for the Holly Ridge project. He called for transparency and engagement from the commissioners, offering to provide further information and tours of the development sites.

The meeting underscored a critical intersection of local economic strategy and regulatory practices, with stakeholders advocating for policies that foster competition and support significant development projects in the region.