Comptroller vows to fight wage theft with proposed bill
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced legislation on
Monday that would target companies that are under investigation for wage theft
by empowering his office to cut off payments for state contracts.
“An Act Allowing the Comptroller to Enforce Wage Statutes,”
which has not yet been assigned a bill number, aims to create a faster, more
muscular mechanism for rooting out wage theft after an audit revealed that
about a thousand
cases of wage and workplace complaints were languishing in a state
Department of Labor backlog and too few investigators are being employed by the
department to investigate them.
Last year, the Labor and Public Employees Committee tried
and failed to pass a bill that
would have nearly doubled the number of investigators to 45 by mid-2026.
Scanlon said he was proud of the proposal.
“I promise that, moving forward, that if there is a company
that’s shortchanging workers, we’re gonna shortchange them.”
“We see a rise in bad actors doing bad by the workers that
work for them,” Scanlon said. “For too long, too many people have been waiting
for an answer, and I believe that if we stop the multimillion-dollar checks
that are coming into some of these companies, you’re gonna get an answer
faster.”
The bill would create a system in which the comptroller
would be notified when a company with state contracts comes under investigation
for violating wage law. The comptroller could then choose to stop payments for
that project until an investigation has been completed and penalties are
finalized.
Scanlon was joined by Rep. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, who
co-chairs the Labor and Public Employees Committee, Rep. Darrell Wilson,
D-Norwich, Sen. Jorge Cabrera, D-Hamden, Sen. Joe Toner, executive director of
the Connecticut State Building Trades Council, and Kimberly Glassman, the
director of the Foundation for Fair Contracting.
According to Glassman, the proposal would give the state a
new way to hold bad actors accountable, one that could be quicker to deliver
results than long investigations. She said some companies could respond as
quickly as 24 to 48 hours.
“Wage enforcement has been a bipartisan issue in
Connecticut, something we should be proud of, and I hope we continue that
Glassman said that wage theft is rampant within the
construction industry.
Toner said that the problem of contractors taking advantage
of workers in Connecticut is growing, in some cases with contractors bidding
low to secure contracts then taking that money out of workers’ wages.
“It cannot continue to happen,” Toner said.
Kushner said the bill is about catching cheaters and that
she was glad it’s gaining public attention.
“Because I don’t think the public likes cheaters,” Kushner
said. “They’re not just cheating the workers — they’re cheating the whole
system. They’re cheating when it comes to workers comp, they’re cheating when
it comes to taxes, and there are the good guys out there that are actually
following the rules, so you’re hurting other contractors as well.”
These 8 CT schools got state OK for construction reimbursements totaling $152M
Eight school building projects have made the
state's School Construction Project Priority List for 2025.
In total, the state's Department of Administrative Services
is providing $152.4 million in grants to support school building projects in
Fairfield, Greenwich, Norwich, Plainville and Woodbridge.
The combined cost of the local projects is $262.7 million.
Fairfield
Three
Fairfield public schools on the priority list — Osborn Hill and North
Stratfield elementary schools and Fairfield Woods Middle School — received
money to "improve thermal and air quality, facility security and energy
efficiency," according to the project details.
Along with installing HVAC fresh air and air conditioning
systems throughout the three schools, each building will get a secure entry
vestibule and an upgrade on their fire sprinkler system.
If necessary, they will get improvements on their electrical
and water systems, along with their building management system. LED lights will
also be installed within all the ceilings where work is being done.
The estimated cost depends on the building: Osborn Hills' work is estimated to cost $597,500, North Stratfield's is estimated to cost $652,500 and work at the middle school is estimated to cost $769,500.
All three will receive a state reimbursement grant of about
26 percent of the cost of their project, with an estimated grant amount for
Osborn Hills of $155,768, a grant of $170,107 for North Stratfield and
$200,609 for the middle school.
Greenwich
The cost to renovate, add four classrooms and make Old
Greenwich School Americans with Disabilities Act accessible is
going to be slightly more than $45 million.
The project will get a 20 percent reimbursement from the
state, now it has been listed on the state's construction priority list,
worth about $9 million.
According to the project details, OGS was originally built
in 1902 and has not undergone any significant capital projects in 25
years.
The project proposal includes adding in new HVAC
systems, installing an emergency generator and upgrading the building's
communications, fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, along with selective
roof and window replacements.
It also will include creating a new, secure, ADA-accessible
main entrance at the front plaza. There will be a new elevator and more
ADA-compliant bathrooms.
Norwich
Norwich is getting two new school buildings.
Both John M. Moriarty Elementary School and Uncas Elementary
School lack proper security, technology, power needs and building systems,
according to the project details. The new buildings will "address these
issues and provide a new, updated learning environment."
The two new buildings will be built on the current
buildings' sites. Once their built, the old building will be demolished.
The new schools are expected to feature air-conditioned and
adequate air ventilation to meet current codes along with a fire alarm system
that uses audible and visual alarms to notify people if there is a fire. Both
buildings are slated to offer a school-wide intercom system that will be linked
to the emergency notification system, sprinkler system and other
features.
The new John M. Moriarty building is expected to cost $74
million while the new Uncas building is estimated to be $76.4 million.
Both schools are expected to get a state reimbursement rate
of slightly more than 67 percent: The John M. Moriarty project,
will receive about $49.7 million; Uncas is expected to receive $51.3
million.
Plainville
Plainville
Middle School is set for a renovation.
While the main structure is in good conditions, the
infrastructure and most of the building’s original components are in poor
condition, according to the project details.
"In addition, most of the programmatic spaces are
lacking in fundamental needs such as security, technology, power distribution
and
quality building controls that regulate temperature and air quality,"
according to the project description.
The renovation project, which is estimated to cost about $62
million, is going to increase classroom size, add a secure entry vestibule and
replace outdated mechanical equipment. It will also include an HVAC and
electrical and plumbing upgrade and a roof replacement.
This project is slated to get a nearly 43 percent state
reimbursement, which is estimated to be $40.4 million.
Woodbridge
District 5's Amity Regional High School's media center and
surrounding classrooms will be getting an upgrade.
There will be new lighting, temperature controls and
systems, fire systems, plumbing and furniture.
The current library layout "allows no line of site of
the entrance, which will also be expanded" so students can come and go in
a more efficient way, the project details state.
The project is estimated to cost about $3 million and will
also include expanding the collaborative areas in the library so more students
can interact. The classroom attached to the media center will also be
redesigned.
The state reimbursement rate for the project is about 43
percent, which is estimated to be $1.3 million.
Students, administrators celebrate first day at new Torrington High: ‘Everyone was really excited’
Jack Sheedy
TORRINGTON — Principal Brian Scott said despite the subzero
temperatures, most things went smoothly during the first day of classes in
the new Torrington
High School building Jan. 22.
“The parent drop-off line definitely was a little bit longer
than we had anticipated, but I think that was the combination of a new building
plus some really cold weather this morning,” he said at the end of the day.
He said it was 6 degrees below zero when he arrived in the
morning.
“I think a lot of families that the students normally walk
in, got driven in today, so (that) created a little bit longer line than we had
anticipated,” he said.
Superintendent Michael J. Wilson agreed the day went
smoothly, thanks in part to advance planning.
“Amazing day,” he said. “We were here first thing this
morning to greet all the kids in the central office (and) other administrators
throughout the district. And, you know, obviously all the high school
administrators were really welcoming the kids first thing this morning. And it
was a great atmosphere, a great vibe. Everyone was really excited.”
Opening-day confusion was at a minimum, he said, because
many parents and students had toured the building earlier during parent-teacher
nights.
“We held them here rather than at the old building,” he
said. “Students got a chance to find their way around, so that helped a lot.
But this morning, there were a couple of anxious faces. And we reminded
everyone, if it says 1001, you're on the first floor. If it says 2001, you're
on the second.”
The four-story, 310-000-square-foot building will cost about
$179.5 million, with the state reimbursing the city 85%. The middle school wing
will open for classes in September.
Wilson expressed thanks to Mayor Elinor C. Carbone, the
Board of Education, the building committee “and everyone who worked really hard
for the citizens of this wonderful community to make this happen. I mean, this
is an amazing facility.”
In contrast to these impressions are some memories of April
29, 1963, when the soon-to-be-demolished THS buildings were new.
Paul Bentley, an alum from the Class of 1966 and author of
several Torrington-themed books, recalls that day in a Facebook message: “I
remember a lot of confusion that first day and being amazed with the A-B
connector which was state-of-the-art to me.”
Phil Oles, from the Class of 1964, recalls in an email,
“I remember how nice the new chem labs were. I think there were students
or teachers directing us to homerooms because the school was massive and easy
to get lost in.”
A yearbook from 1964 recalls “moving into a fine building
referred to as the new high school. The first day was marked by a flag-raising
ceremony.”
Editors of the 1965 yearbook wrote, “As we walked wide-eyed
through the glass-enclosed corridors, we noticed many new and strange devices
(including) a public address system, which reaches every part of the five-unit
building.”
Enrollment in 1963, according to The Torrington
Register of that day, was 1,754. Enrollment in 2025 is 1,050, Scott said,
adding there are 107 certified teachers and counselors and 94 non-certified
employees.
“I think the building and all of the facilities in the
building are going to give the students a lot of really new and exciting
opportunities, particularly in the performing arts, as well as in the STEM
fields,” Scott said.
He said the school has new construction and engineering
labs, including a new auditorium, podcast studio and music studio.
The 495-seat auditorium features cameras and microphones
placed strategically to record events, Scott said. The side walls feature
acoustic sails, which he said redirect sound toward the center. The ceiling has
what he said is an “acoustic cloud,” which absorbs sound to minimize echoing.
“There is actually additional acoustic panels that lower
down to form a shell behind the band to redirect the sound,” he said.
Students will have the opportunity to learn the Dante sound
system, which Scott said is widely used across the country. Fully certified and
licensed sound engineers could be qualified to work at TV stations or for
Broadway productions, he said.
Scott said the first major use of the new auditorium will
likely be the spring production of the Broadway musical “Working,” an
adaptation by Stephen Schwartz of the book by the same title by
Studs Terkel. The play ran on Broadway in 1978, according to IBDB.
A podcast recording studio will be used by Music Tech II
students, taught by band director Wayne Splettstoezer, Scott said. “We are
hoping to expand it and have other teachers in other departments also start
creating podcasts,” he said.
Across the hallway is a modern band room, with electronic
instruments and a DJ stand. “Once we have it all set up, we will have a full
recording studio for music on this side and a full recording studio for
podcasts on that side,” Scott said.
Micheal Ahoua, a THS senior who has excelled academically
and in football and track, said he is excited about the new high school
building.
“I’m honestly impressed with how smooth (opening day) went,
especially for moving into a new school midway through,” he said. “When schools
and districts have new schools, you usually wait until the end of the year and
then kick it off at the start of the year, but we went with doing it in the
second semester, and honestly, it looks so far (that) it’s going pretty well.”
Micheal said he is looking forward to the renovation of the
Connie Donahue Gym, the only structure from the old THS buildings to be spared
the wrecking ball.
“The Connie Donahue is going to be refurbished and
essentially broken down and rebuilt and then connected to our current new
school,” he said.