2019-09-16 EDA Minutes (signed) - Laserfiche WebLink

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REDA Meeting Minutes—Monday,September 16,2019 Page 4 Mr. Walton provided a few clarifications on misinformation, noting this group has tried to use in their bullying strategy against Reuter Walton. Today he saw a post on Facebook that a gentleman by the name of Eric was exploited by someone named Jose Marino. Reuter Walton immediately searched its server and so far, there is no record of knowing this person though his staff asked their Director of Operations to do a further investigation and what was written looks absolutely horrible. He explained this has nothing to do with Reuter Walton and his company does not engage in human trafficking, wage theft, or otherwise break any other laws. These are words that have never even come up in his office until this year, until this contract negotiation, and the one time that Reuter Walton's name was associated with a bad act and in the paper, it was Reuter Walton and Lennar that were referenced. After that investigation, the report found that Reuter Walton engaged in no wrong doing. Mr. Walton indicated he had a packet, and thought the Council had one too, of the compilation of what the Carpenter's Union has said Reuter Walton has done wrong. He noted the only two actual references to Reuter Walton in the entire packet are those two letters to the Department of Labor and the one occurrence that was in the paper. In spite of having no connection or fault, because Reuter Walton is so opposed to actions like this, his company has taken proactive steps in the organization and projects. Mr. Walton noted his company met with CTUL, a local non-profit focused on worker's rights, over seven months this year to try to help influence positive change in the construction industry. Reuter Walton learned it was the only developer and contractor to even attempt this process with them. His company also created a sub-contractor certification and now requires all of their subs to sign it, which addresses topics like wage enforcement, workers compensation, labor trafficking, and they are in the process of creating a compliance officer role within the organization to further these efforts. At a recent project in St. Paul, his company has proved that the neighborhood group could inspect the sites to verify Reuter Walton is doing what they sat they are doing. Reuter Walton remains open to other proactive ideas like the ones created. He noted that even while Reuter Walton takes all of these measures on its own initiative, this group has not been willing to engage in any constructive dialogue over the issues the Union claims to be so concerned about. He stated hopefully, this helps everyone in the room understand that Reuter Walton is not a bad actor. Mr. Walton stated people are glad to have Reuter Walton in their communities working. He noted his company is in unchartered water with this smear campaign by the Carpenter's Union. Mr. Walton explained each year Reuter Walton donates tens of thousands of dollars to local non-profits, like Lutheran Social Services, and even larger than that Reuter Walton not only volunteer at Habitat for Humanity as a company