Lebanon snow removal bill investigated

LEBANON, Conn. (WTNH) - A watchdog group is urging the state to start an investigation into an Alabama company that was hired by the town of Lebanon to clear snow from schools' roofs.

The Labor Management Foundation for Fair Contracting of Connecticut says SG&S Industrial Constructors hired Connecticut halfway house residents for roof snow removal at minimum wage, and then charged a Lebanon $300,000 for the job.

The watchdog group says it talked to some of the workers hired to clear the roofs off the three schools and wants to know more about SG&S Industrial Constructors.

"The workers I was told got paid 10 dollars an hour and they were bused in. They got a Greyhound bus and they brought the people in from Hartford off the streets of Hartford and people like that," says Marilu Sirois, owner of Lebanon Green Market.

Sirois says the workers would get lunch every day at the Green Market.

"I asked him how he got the job and he said that he was contacted by from somebody in Connecticut that couldn't, the guy was from Alabama, that couldn't do it, and so it was word of mouth that he got the job, and then he went into Hartford and got people," says Sirois.

The labor watchdog group wants to know if SG&S was bonded, insured, and properly trained workers.

"If they were only getting paid 10 dollars an hour there's no justification for that kind of bill," says Sirois.

The Lebonan first selectman says to her knowledge, the bill has not yet been paid.