Barry delays city's local-hire law

Friday, September 25, 2015, Vol. 39, No. 39

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville's new mayor has delayed implementation of the city's new local hiring requirement approved by Nashville voters.

Multiple media outlets report that Mayor Megan Barry announced Wednesday that officials need more time to review the local-hire requirement for city-funded construction projects. The rule had been scheduled to be written into procurement policies starting Thursday.

In a letter to the Metro Council, Barry said concerns arose after talks with union leaders, the business community and legal counsel that the new procedures might hinder Nashville's ability to move forward with construction projects

Barry's administration has not set a new date to implement the ordinance, which requires contractors on public construction projects worth more than $100,000 to assign at least 40 percent of work hours to employees who live within the city.