State labor inspectors issue stop-work order on Norwich building
Norwich — State Department of Labor officials issued stop-work orders late Thursday afternoon on two contractors renovating a commercial building at 100 Main St. for violations of three labor regulations.
The Wages and Workplace Standards Division of the state DOL posted two placards on the door citing J&M Plumbing of Norwich and Sun Light Homes Repair of Warner, N.H., for failing to obtain workers' compensation coverage, failure to have proof of workers' compensation documentation and misrepresenting employees as independent contractors.
Department spokeswoman Nancy Steffens said the inspectors did not find any payroll records and found that the employees were being paid in cash.
She said the employees would not be protected if an accident occurred and also the department was unable to verify that the employees were being paid proper wages.
In addition, she said, workers doing some plumbing work were not licensed plumbers.
Steffens said no work will be allowed to continue at the site until companies meet with DOL inspectors and show proof that they have payroll documents and have obtained workers' compensation insurance.
Michael Watkinson of J&M Plumbing discussed the stop-work order with inspectors Thursday and called it a “misunderstanding” that will be resolved.
“I will take care of what I need to take care of,” he said.
Norwich Code Enforcement Officer George Gardner said the contractors had proper building permits for the work inside the building.
The work also might qualify for city downtown revitalization grants or loans.
Robert Mills, president of the Norwich Community Development Corp., said the building owner has not yet applied for specific programs.
The current work was expected to reveal what extensive building code renovations would be needed in the building, Mills said.
"It's an important building on Main Street," Mills said.
The building is owned by 100 Main Street Associates LLC of West Hartford and had been managed by Norwich businessman Zane Megos in recent years.
In March, a New London Superior Court judge found Megos guilty of violation of probation and sentenced him to five years in prison for continuing a practice of taking rental deposits from potential tenants for Norwich-area apartments either condemned or not available for rent.
The incident that led to the conviction was for an apartment at 467 North Main St.
Megos is appealing his conviction.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
