MERIDEN — It was long debated whether or not the city should have just one high school back in the 1950s, just as it was in more recent times. Dealing with exploding enrollment figures, officials examined different sites, weighed their options and agreed two schools would be needed on the outskirts of the city to accommodate the population that was spreading from border to border in Meriden.More than 50 years later, the city’s east side high school, Maloney, is already undergoing renovations and it will be Platt High School’s turn to break ground on a massive construction project this week. Once featured in the Wall Street Journal as a “fine new building” physically, Platt today is seen as out of date and deteriorating, similar to its near-identical twin, Maloney.
The $111.8 million Platt project will reshape the school, even more so than Maloney, over the course of four years. It is the second major renovation in the school’s history, with the previous one being an addition of more than 86,000 square feet, including 18 new classrooms, additional gym space and a pool. Unlike the original construction of the school and the first major renovation, the new renovations have nothing to do with increasing enrollment.“Having worked in other high schools, it’s clear it’s time for some major improvements at both Platt and Maloney,” School Superintendent Mark D. Benigni said, commending staff for still maintaining the buildings over the years. “Some of the internal systems are so outdated that some of the work that needs to occur is not visible to students every day, but it’s critical to operation of the facility.”
Andrew Jarosz owes payment to 35 employees from work completed this year and last year, officials said in an announcement today.
Labor officials also allege that Jarosz falsified payroll records on government projects.
"This is a case where our investigators worked with the employer and gave him every opportunity to pay his employees the appropriate amount for the work they had done," Sharon Palmer, the state's labor commissioner, said in a statement. "In addition to non-payment of wages, Mr. Jarosz admitted that he did not pay his employees the full prevailing wage required for several projects and submitted numerous certified payrolls that he knew to be false."
Filing a false certified payroll is a felony in Connecticut, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
Expect closures, detours along Route 34 interchange to Route 8north in Derby
DERBY >> Motorists traveling along the Route 34 interchange to Route 8 north can expect lane closures and detours beginning Tuesday because of construction.
The state Department of Transportation announced that work to replace bridge deck joints at the Route 8 north on-ramps from both Route 34 east and Route 34 west will get under way. The project involves replacement of existing expansion joint systems and includes some concrete header repairs, as well, according to the DOT. Ramp closures with detours will occur between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Most of the construction work will take place between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.State Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia, encouraged drivers to exercise caution during this construction period, which is slated to last until November 2014.
Torrington breaks ground on health center
TORRINGTON -- The Community Health and Wellness Center of Greater Torrington ceremoniously broke ground Monday on a $6 million expansion of its Migeon Avenue facility to increase health services to the area.Edward Arum, president of the center's board of directors, said work is underway on a 24,000-square-foot addition to the existing 10,100-square-foot brick building.