MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature, county manager Joshua Potosek and Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council president L. Todd Diorio announced that a project labor agreement (PLA) has been struck regarding the coming construction of a new terminal at the Sullivan County airport.

“I’ve been happy to work with the labor unions and the legislature on this important agreement,” said Potosek. “PLAs like this provide for stability, consistency and efficiency on major projects, keeping costs down. The last one we signed was for the construction of the county jail, and it proved to be beneficial.”

Diorio commended elected officials and Potosek, and added “PLAs have been successful in Sullivan County and the entire Hudson Valley, ensuring quality construction projects brought in on time, on budget and ensuring local labor on these projects.”

“As a legislator and former chair of the public works committee, I’ve encouraged PLAs to be put together whenever possible, as they eliminate problems that otherwise might cause a project to be delayed or even derailed,” said District 7 legislator Joe Perrello, who chaired the legislature’s public works committee when this project was first discussed.

“PLAs mean everyone’s on the same page regarding holidays, pay rates, apprenticeships, and working hours,” said George Conklin, District 5 legislator and current chair of the public works committee. “That saves time, money and plenty of headaches.”

“Skilled, organized labor is so important on projects of this magnitude, and I’m pleased to be collaborating with our local trades unions on this initiative,” said legislature chairman and District 1 legislator Robert Doherty, in whose district the airport sits. “A PLA benefits taxpayers, unions and government, making sure we can accomplish major infrastructure upgrades and deliver good-paying jobs in a county that very much needs both.”

The $24 million project—$18.5 million of which is coming from New York State—has already begun with the demolition of the 54-year-old original terminal earlier this year. Construction bids are due to be awarded in November for the new, two-story terminal, with project completion slated for May 2025.

Dan Hust serves as the Sullivan County communications director.