Lighthouse Inn bidder is labeled unscrupulous
New London - The New Haven businessman who emerged this week as sole bidder for the Lighthouse Inn was suspended from participating in federal government contracts three years ago after allegations emerged that he misappropriated money from a native Alaskan group.
Anthony D. Acri III's suspension lasted for about nine months, ending on May 1, 2012, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. The allegations - reiterated last year in a lawsuit filed by the Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corp. and its subsidiary, KIC Development LLC - state that Acri, his firm, Walton Invesco Inc., and several of his associates stole at least $3 million over a two-year period. Describing them as "unscrupulous business people," the suit filed in the Alaskan Superior Court - later transferred to a federal district court in the same state - alleges they enriched themselves at the expense of the Alaska native corporation that provides funding for the Eskimo people of Kotzebue, in northwestern Alaska. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Manchester to get roundabout at hazardous intersection
MANCHESTER — The hazardous intersection of Woodbridge and Oakland streets is to become the town's first roundabout. The project was approved for funding and construction is tentatively set to start next year or in late 2016, Town Engineer Jeff LaMalva wrote in a recent memo to General Manager Scott Shanley. The Connecticut Southern Railroad spur would pass directly through the roundabout, with gated crossings, a configuration that has been used successfully elsewhere in the country, LaMalva wrote. "As this will be the first roundabout in town and has the added element of a railroad crossing, there will be extensive public outreach and opportunity for public comment early in the design process," LaMalva wrote. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Senator Murphy proposes federal gas tax hike for infrastructure improvements
NEW HAVEN >> Standing in front of one of Connecticut’s 406 structurally deficient bridges Friday, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy announced his proposal to increase the federal gas tax. The gas tax hike would increase the funds available to repair and replace critical infrastructure around the country.
Murphy was joined by members of local chambers of commerce, labor groups, representatives from workforce programs and transportation and environmental advocates at the Interstate 91 bridge over the Quinnipiac River. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in 2017 using $13 million in federal funds. Murphy said he is proposing 6-cent-per-gallon increases in 2015 and 2016. He said the increase would raise the gas tax up to what inflation would have brought it up to after 20 years — an increase of 12 cents. The senator said the federal gas tax has not been updated in more than 20 years. The gas tax finances a federal infrastructure fund used to make improvements to roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
State Bond Commission passes more then $80M in funding for Litchfield County projects
Funding for several projects in Litchfield County were approved Friday by the state’s Bond Commission. The largest project on the commission’s agenda included the approval of $81.4 million for the construction of the Litchfield County Courthouse complex in Torrington. On Tuesday, Gov. Dannel Malloy held a news conference at the parking lot in Torrington where the 174,000-square foot courthouse is scheduled to be built. The project was in limbo for nearly four decades as governor after governor was unable to secure a new site and funding for the complex. The courthouse will consolidated four courts, all of which are in Litchfield County. State Rep. Roberta Willis, D-Lakeville, released a statement on Friday commending Malloy’s support. Willis worked on the project since her arrival at the state house in 2000. Willis called the project a “landmark development.” “We can now go forward with the building of a new Litchfield County Courthouse in Torrington which will serve the entire region as well as create or retain 1,424 construction jobs and serve as an economic catalyst,” Willis said. Willis was also instrumental in securing $320,500 for the
Housatonic Youth Service Bureau. The money was approved Friday and will help build new offices in Falls Village. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Why isn't the construction industry marketed?
Marketing is, in a word, promotion. The time has come for the construction industry to start promoting itself. Builders can't sell their services to government and private sector project owners, of course. Owners seek bids when they are ready to build and not before. For several years now, they haven't been ready. However, what the construction industry can do is sell itself to a new generation of laborers. An estimated two million construction jobs were lost during the recession and as few as 10 percent of those men and women are expected to return when jobs finally become available again. We all know the industry faces a crisis in terms of having enough qualified people to run machinery and pick up all the loose ends of a construction project. We know that but what is the industry doing about it—besides grumbling and wringing hands? CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE