Cheshire enriches state marshals (hWg 25)
From the AP:
Connecticut's 217 state marshals are required to file annual income statements with the Office of State Ethics. A review of those filings by The Hartford Courant shows that 61 marshals grossed more than $100,000 in 2007. Another 53 grossed between $50,000 and $100,000.
Elsewhere in the story:
One marshal, John T. Fiorillo of Bristol, grossed more than $2 million last year by serving legal papers to people being sued and homeowners facing foreclosures, state records show....Six other marshals grossed more than $500,000 last year....
That's great for the state marshals. And while I was initially surprised to see people grossing in the millions, I then recalled that state marshals get used for almost anything... particularly when there are problems and you get the feeling that someone wants to pretend like those aren't the droids you're looking for:
I'm still wondering why the TM and Council Chairman withheld the corruption memo from me for at least ten days. As I suggested yesterday... maybe we can add that to the strategic plan priorities for tomorrow - whenever corruption is mentioned, inform all nine Council... not just the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" majority.
Tim White
1 comment:
Tim,
This article is along the same line as the corruption going on in Cheshire:
Home improvement sting house nets 90 unregistered contractors and salespersons in Central Connecticut
By Department of Consumer Protection
One hundred-thirty-four (134) home improvement contractors and salespersons face criminal and / or administrative penalties for not being registered with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection as required by state law or for violating the Home Solicitation Sales Act, Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. said today. The Commissioner spoke this morning at a press conference marking the conclusion of a three month undercover operation at an unoccupied Plainville house.
“The requirement that home improvement contractors and salespeople register with the Department has been on the books for 20 years, but we still find many individuals trying to skirt this law,” Farrell said. “In terms of volume and cost, the highest-ranking consumer complaint in Connecticut and nationally each year continues to be home improvement. Problems that come up routinely cost consumers thousands of dollars to correct; that’s why we take our home improvement laws so seriously. While the number of unregistered contractors is still too high, it appears that compliance is improving, and our education and outreach is paying off.”
During the three-month operation, Department Trade Practices investigators, working with the Plainville Police Department, used an empty house at 35 Wilson Street in Plainville that had been provided for this purpose by the State Department of Transportation. Posing as homeowners, the undercover investigators contacted area contractors suspected of working without registrations, and invited them to bid on various projects.
One hundred thirty-four (134) contractors and salespersons from Berlin, Bloomfield, Branford, Bristol, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Cromwell, East Harford, East Haven, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Hartford, Kensington, Madison, Manchester, Middletown, Milford, New Britain, New Haven, New Milford, Newington, North Branford, North Haven, Plainville, Plantsville, Pleasant Valley, Rocky Hill, Shelton, Simsbury, Southington, Stafford Springs, Terryville, Wallingford, Waterbury, Watertown, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, Winsted, Wolcott and Billings, NY visited the house and submitted bids and contracts for various projects. They offered painting, chimney work, roofing, hardwood floor installation, remodeling and other home improvement services. Ninety (90) individuals were found to be unregistered, and another 44 were deemed non-compliant with other aspects of the home improvement law.
“The law requires that home improvement contractors provide consumers with a clearly-worded written contract that includes a three-day notice of cancellation, and that they include their home improvement registration numbers in their contracts and in all their advertising. Many contractors fail to do this consistently,” Farrell said. “We want contractors to comply fully with all provisions of the Home Improvement Act, since the law is designed to protect consumers and ensure a fair marketplace.”
“The Department’s ongoing efforts to enforce the state’s contractor registration law are important in educating both consumers and contractors,” Bill Ethier, Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Connecticut said. “Consumers deserve the benefits that the law provides, and contractors who abide by the law deserve the level playing field that strong enforcement fosters.” The Association represents home builders and home improvement contractors in Connecticut.
The unregistered contractors face criminal charges of up to one year in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Registered contractors who were identified as being non-compliant with other parts of the Home Improvement Law face agency administrative review and possible sanctions.
“In Connecticut, failure to register as a home improvement contractor or salesperson is a criminal offense, and we’re not shy about fully enforcing the law,” Farrell said.
Before closing, Commissioner Farrell thanked his staff and everyone who worked on the enforcement effort, including Plainville Police Chief Daniel Coppinger, Department of Revenue Services Discovery & Special Investigation Unit Director Jim Maistos, Department of Motor Vehicle Truck Inspection Unit Sgt. Chris Smith, and William Dorn of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
This is the Department’s eighth sting house operation. Last year’s effort in Ridgefield identified 150 unregistered contractors. Previous operations were conducted in Wilton, West Haven, Bristol, Montville, Enfield and Waterbury.
The Department of Consumer Protection administers a Home Improvement Guaranty Fund for consumers who suffer construction damage or problems as a result of work done by a registered home improvement contractor. Persons whose situations qualify may receive restitution from the fund up to $15,000 per contract.
Consumers who have questions or concerns about their home improvement contractor or project, or who seek information about the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund may call the Department at (860) 713-6110, toll-free at 1-800-842-2649, or visit the agency website at www.ct.gov/dcp.
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Submitted by: Mike Rocci
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