Hartford Business Journal

6 Hartford Business Journal • February 1, 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com TOP STORY Two state college presidents leaving Connecticut's public higher-education system will lose two college presi- dents this year. John W. Miller will retire as president of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) effective Sept. 15, and Mary A. Papazian will resign as head of South- ern Connecticut State University (SCSU) July 1. Papazian is leaving to be president of San José State University in California. The turnover comes as the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System, which encom- passes 17 colleges and universities, faces myriad challenges, including declining state funding and enrollment, as well as contentious collective-bar- gaining negotiations with 7,300 teachers. Miller began his tenure as CCSU president in 2005. He was the 12th president of CCSU, the oldest publicly supported institution of higher education in Connecticut founded in 1849. Dur- ing his tenure, Miller is credited with increasing the university's endowment from $20 million in 2005 to $63 million in 2015. He also increased the university's six-year graduation rate from 40 percent in 2005 to 57.3 percent in 2015, and increased minority enroll- ment from 11 percent in 2005 to 31 percent in 2015. A new MBA program and majors in engi- neering, nursing and teaching, were also initiated. Papazian become SCSU's president in 2011. During her tenure she established a student success taskforce that enhanced student ser- vices and support, and the first presidents com- mission on campus climate and inclusion. She also established the Office for STEM in- novation and Leadership, where SCSU's new science, technology, engineer- ing and math (STEM) programs were created. TELECOMMUNICATIONS Industry execs critical of CT broadband report The New England Cable and Telecommunications Association (NECTA), Fron- tier Communications and Comcast voiced criticism last week over a report is- sued by the Office of Consumer Counsel criticizing high-speed broadband ser- vices in Connecticut. Paul Cianelli, NECTA president, said the report is wrong, arguing it relied on hand-picked samples that it then extrapolated to include the entire state. The report, "A Brief Overview of Broadband Deficiencies in Connecticut", claimed serious broadband challenges in the state including deficient speeds, limited or no affordable competitive options for broadband services for businesses in urban areas, delays in service, and a significant need for investments to upgrade service. Cianelli said the facts are completely different, with the state ranked high for its broadband speeds, which he said have increased annually for the past 14 years. "Those numbers just don't seem to add up," he said, adding there is a high pene- tration of broadband service in Connecticut. "We are pretty ubiquitous," he added. Consumer Counsel Elin Katz didn't respond for comment. ECONOMY & LABOR Malloy names new labor, DMV commissioners Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has reached into the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to name his new labor commissioner. Scott Jackson, the undersecretary for intergovernmental policy within OPM and former mayor of Hamden, is the governor's choice to lead the labor department. Kurt Westby of Middletown will serve as deputy commissioner of the agency. Meantime, Dennis Murphy, who has twice been acting commissioner of the state Department of Labor, is now the acting commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles starting Feb. 12. Jackson was in his third term as Hamden mayor when Malloy selected him to work in state government in March 2015. He served at OPM for slightly more than nine months before being named labor commissioner. Jackson will begin serving as commissioner on Feb. 3. He will succeed Sha- ron Palmer, who retired from the position in December. Murphy joined the labor department in Jan. 2011. He replaces Andres Ayala, who quit recently amid heavy criticism for his management of DMV's IT changeover. OSHA seeks to fine Lake Compounce $70K The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is suggesting up to a $70,000 fine for Bristol's Lake Compounce, alleging the amusement park's employees were exposed to chemical, burn and respiratory hazards from spraying coatings on park equipment and working with caustic chemicals in the park's paint room. In a statement, Warren Simpson, OSHA's area director in Hartford, said these con- ditions exposed Lake Compounce employees to serious burn, fire, chemical burn, electric shock and eye, face and hand injuries. "The employer must act promptly to effectively eliminate these hazards before they injure its employees," he said. The amusement park was cited for 18 serious violations of workplace safety standards. OSHA is proposing penalties of $70,200. Lake Compounce, said in a statement, it is working with OSHA to address a number of concerns raised. EDUCATION UConn, union agree to new contract UConn non-faculty staff and the administration have reached an agreement on a new five-year contract, which begins July 1, 2016. Employees will receive 2 percent pay increases the first year, followed by 1 percent the next four following years of the five-year contract. Funds have also been set aside for merit-pay increases. In exchange, employees agreed to increase their workweek from 35 hours to 40 hours over the life of the contract beginning in July 2017. That's in line with what other state agencies currently work. Workers will receive an additional 2.5 percent bump in pay for each 1.25 hours added to the work week annually. Employees hired after July 1,2016 will start at 40 hours and will not receive additional pay. Payment for layoffs has also been reduced. Previously, employees were re- quired to receive either 12-months notice or payment equal to 12 months of their salary. Now, they will only be paid for six months, or given 12-months notice. Employees can also now separate from employment with 60 days of vacation time, up from 44. Another change is employees fired for misconduct can receive no vacation payout. TECHNOLOGY Windsor's PCC Technology Group acquired New Orleans technology company GCR Inc. has acquired PCC Technology Group of Windsor. No financial details were disclosed. PCC is a national provider of government software products for business registration, business one-stop (tax, revenue and labor filings), election admin- istration, campaign finance, and right-of-way and property acquisition manage- ment. GCR said its acquisition broadens its product offerings and expands its customer base in 44 states. In 2014, PCC Technology Group took part in one of Greater Hartford's largest realty deals when it leased 16,000 square feet at 100 Northfield Drive in Windsor. SPORTS & OUTDOORS Rockies commit to Yard Goats through 2018 The Colorado Rockies have announced a player-development contract exten- sion for another two years with the Hartford Yard Goats. It will keep the two teams together through the 2018 season. The Colorado Rockies, a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, pro- vides the Yard Goats with players and coaching staff each season. The original agreement signed in the fall of 2014 was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2016 season. This is the first season the team is playing under the Yard Goats moniker. It was formerly known as the New Britain Rock Cats before relocating to Hart- ford. The team's Hartford home opener has been delayed until at least May 31 because of ongoing problems with the construction of Dunkin' Donuts stadium just north of downtown Hartford. The Yard Goats begin their inaugural season on April 7 in Richmond, Va., against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. BY THE NUMBERS $563.1B The total value of U.S. healthcare M&A actvitiy in 2015, up a record 45 percent from 2014, according to Norwalk-based Irving Levin Associates Inc. $20M The donation Middletown's Wesleyan University received from its board of trustees chair Joshua Boger, who founded Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals. 40 The weekly number of hours UConn's 1,900 non-teaching staff must work as part of their new contract, up from 35 hours previously. 1.2% The percentage drop in Connectiuct's December median home sale prices, which fell to $242,000 from $245,000 a year ago. TOP 5 MOST READ on HartfordBusiness.com ■ EB hiring 1,500 CT workers in '16 ■ Consumer counsel issues report critical of broadband in CT ■ Phoenix CFO Malley to be Bronin's ops chief ■ CT state auditors seek greater powers ■ Hartford medical office manager gets prison for tax evasion STAY CONNECTED For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to www.HartfordBusiness.com. HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Green Guide Weekly, CT Health Care Weekly www.HartfordBusiness.com/subscribe WEEK IN REVIEW John W. Miller, president, Central Connecticut State University Mary A. Papazian, president, Southern Connecticut State University Jerry Long (left) and partner Joe Singh have sold PCC Technology Group to a New Orleans-based tech firm. P H O T O | H B J F I L E

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