Sussex County Council has a real problem when any member can introduce an ordinance and automatically trigger an expensive and time-consuming process without first demonstrating the merit of what is proposed.
That's what happened when Councilman Rob Arlett introduced a right-to-work ordinance stating no worker in Sussex County could be required to pay union fees or join a union as a condition of employment.
Arlett brought the proposed ordinance forward with no prior discussion, seeking immediate introduction.
Council members stalled for a while but eventually acquiesced, even though the measure had no apparent support.
Seen as a union-busting tactic, the proposed ordinance was contentious from the start.
But that's not the problem.
Being contentious doesn't mean a proposal shouldn't be considered. The problem is the proposal appeared to be little more than a whim with no advance homework to determine its merit. Union activity in Delaware has been in decline for years, especially since the demise of car factories in the north.
Would a right-to-work ordinance stimulate economic activity here? Had Arlett done some asking around, former county administrators Joe Conaway and Dave Baker would have told him that only once over the past several decades was the county ever questioned by a prospective employer about right-to-work rules.
Where was evidence that Sussex County should, or even have the legal authority, to meddle in relationships between companies and their employees? That's government interference that causes nothing but trouble.
Did Arlett have evidence to the contrary? If so, he didn't offer it.
Council members should have heeded legal counsel's advice early on that such legislation was out of the county's purview. They should have insisted - as they should in all such cases - that a council member demonstrate the value and viability of an ordinance before spending thousands of dollars on a hearing and legal fees, and wasting the public's time and energy when so many other important issues beg attention.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
