http://www.courant.com/news/local/mr...,2446919.story

Unions Critical Of Masonry Candidate
Firm In Line For Work At High School Accused Of Exploitation

July 13, 2006

MIDDLETOWN -- Lighthouse Masonry of New Bedford, Mass., under fire from labor unions over allegations of worker exploitation, is now in line to receive the masonry contract for the high school project.

The original low bidder for the work - F. Monarca Masonry Enterprises Inc. of Middlefield - was forced to withdraw from consideration Wednesday because of errors in its bid documents. A company can reformulate its bid if it can show that it made a mathematical error in its calculation. Monarca's mistakes went beyond simple math.

"Unfortunately, your supporting documentation does not give the city the clear evidence that would be necessary to allow you to reformulate your bid," the city's purchasing agent said in a letter dated Wednesday and faxed to Anthony Santangelo, Monarca's vice president.

"We would have liked to have seen a local company qualify for this contract, but you have to honor the process," said Geen Thazhampallath, aide to Mayor Sebastian Giuliano.

Bricklayer and laborers unions in Massachusetts have filed 12 wage and hour complaints against Lighthouse Masonry in the last two years, including eight that arose from the company's work on the Middlesex county jail in Billerica, Mass., in 2004-05, according to union officials.

The complaints were filed with the Massachusetts attorney general's office. An agency spokeswoman, in a preliminary check Wednesday, was able to confirm that the office had received four to six complaints. The spokeswoman, Meredith Baumann, said she could not discuss whether the agency was investigating Lighthouse Masonry.

"The complaints involved misclassification of workers and the hiring of undocumented workers. The social security numbers of these workers were phonies," said Steven Troiano, wage-compliance investigator for the Masonry Industry Fair Wage Alliance in Boston. Troiano, a former staff member for the Massachusetts attorney general's office who retired in 2002, said he filed the dozen complaints on behalf of the alliance.

Representatives of another union, Laborers New England Region Organizing Fund, said a review of payroll records shows that Lighthouse has hired undocumented or illegal immigrant workers for several years.

A Lighthouse spokesman did not return telephone messages Tuesday and Wednesday.

"We can't prejudge Lighthouse Masonry, but the scope of the review of the company will be in-depth," Thazhampallath said, adding that Giuliano has received a sheaf of e-mails and faxes from unions and other sources about Lighthouse and is concerned about the company's track record.

The city will check the firm's references and former customers, and reach out to labor and construction regulators in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Thazhampallath said.

Nancy Steffens, a spokeswoman for the Connecticut Department of Labor, said Wednesday that the agency has no pending investigations or complaints involving Lighthouse Masonry.

A spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, which enforces workers compensation regulations, said there were no complaints against the company, and that it had valid insurance.

Lighthouse Masonry is on a state list of companies that are pre-qualified to bid on public contracts in Connecticut, meaning they passed a preliminary evaluation by state labor and procurement officials.

Representatives of the New England laborers' union said they plan to attend the high school building committee's meeting Thursday evening and ask panel members to disqualify Lighthouse Masonry and consider the two other remaining bidders. On Wednesday, union representatives from Connecticut passed out handbills in Middletown citing union concerns about Lighthouse Masonry.

The four original bidders were Monarca ($5.9 million); Lighthouse ($7.4 million); Joe Capasso Mason Enterprises Inc. of Hartford ($8.6 million); and Grande Masonry Inc. of Providence ($8.9 million).

The $106.6 million high school project is proceeding after five years and three voter referendums. Project officials said it's important that the steel frame of the school on Wilderman's Way be enclosed before winter.

Thazhampallath said the city has not ruled out rebidding the masonry contract, but first must do a comprehensive review of Lighthouse Masonry. City officials have said that if the firm passes muster, they may be obligated to award Lighthouse the contract.

State procurement officials said a bad reputation alone would not be grounds to bypass an otherwise capable low-bidder on a state contract.

Nick Manocchio, organizing director for the New England laborers' union, said firms that have been fined for labor violations are still permitted to bid on, and receive, public contracts, as long as the appeals period has not expired.

Contact Josh Kovner at jkovner@courant.com.


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