Following random site visits from inspectors, the Connecticut Department of Labor earlier this month issued stop-work orders to 13 subcontractors working on construction projects at Branford Manor, Mystic Marriott and Victoria Gardens.

Collectively, the stop-work orders were issued because the contractors made cash payments with no payroll records, misclassified workers as independent contractors and lacked workers' compensation, Department of Labor spokesperson Nancy Steffens explained. Some contractors had just one violation and some had all three.

"It's not fair for the other companies that do classify their employees correctly and pay all the proper payments," Steffens commented.

The Department of Labor on June 14 issued stop-work orders to six contractors working at Branford Manor: New Jersey contractors T+DM Construction, Marquez Painting and Restoration, J.R. Complete Construction and CCM Construction LLC; Massachusetts contractor ML Painting, and Pennsylvania contractor MGM Construction LLC.

The Department of Labor identified 32 employees as employed by these six companies.

The work of other contractors at Branford Manor continued and general contractor ETC "took immediate action to remedy the situation," managing member Brad Coleman said.

"In order to maintain our schedule and ensure the residents of Branford Manor were not impacted, ETC took proactive measures and quickly added additional local subcontractors as well as directly hired ten individuals, inclusive of local hires," Coleman said in an email. "We are still on target to meet our scheduled October close-out of the project."

Coleman said the $18 million renovation project has included about 30 individual subcontractors since commencing in June 2017.

Interior improvements include new kitchens and bathrooms, with new cabinets and countertops, lighting, flooring, painting, plumbing and radiators.

Outside, Coleman said the siding is about 90 percent complete, and there will be repairs of the sidewalks and parking lot. Also under construction is a community center, and building 25 is becoming fully handicapped-accessible.

At Victoria Gardens, the Department of Labor issued stop-work orders on June 14 to Rhoades & Company Siding Installation, LaFlamme Fine Finishes and HTR Drywall, all Connecticut-based contractors. This affected 32 workers.

Steffens said that as of Friday afternoon, Rhoades & Company and HTR Drywall are the only two of the 13 companies that are now in compliance with state laws and able to resume work.

She said the Wage and Workplace Standards Division is working with several other contractors and is hopeful they will be in compliance by early next week.

Victoria Gardens is a 90-unit, 55-and-over housing development being constructed on Boston Post Road.

The developer, Waterford Development Associates, referred questions on the stop-work orders to general contractor La Rosa Building Group. The project manager at La Rosa Building Group did not respond to requests for comment this week.

At the Mystic Marriott, the Department of Labor issued stop-work orders to J&J Wallcovering of Las Vegas; David Reiner Painting of Elkton, Fla.; Choice 1 Cleaning of Johnston, R.I., and Christon Trim Inc. of Austell, Ga. This impacted 12 employees.

The general manager of the Mystic Marriott did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Steffens said that the Wage and Workplace Standards Division determines how many days an employer has been in violation, and then fines companies $300 per worker per day of the violations.

She said she is unable to provide information on the fines the 13 contractors have accrued until the cases are completed.

Steffens said in an email, "The agency's goal is to get companies and employees back on the job as soon as possible once we can verify they are in compliance with state laws, paying employees properly, and providing the required protections."

e.moser@theday.com