Hartford Business Journal

6 Hartford Business Journal • December 12, 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com TOP STORY Study: Redeveloping Brainard Airport too costly A legislative committee has recommended that Hartford-Brainard Airport remain open in its current use. Though Hartford officials have said the 200-acre airport, which fronts the Connecticut River and has 111 employees on site, could be redeveloped to generate more property taxes for the city, the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee (PRI) said last week that there's no clear path forward for closing the airport anytime soon. PRI said in its final report that closure "would be extremely difficult and likely costly," and would require an unlikely federal approval or waiting until 2035, when federal grant obligations expire. Closure and subsequent remediation and construction — perhaps of a warehousing facility — would also require "significant public funds," ac- cording to the report, and could take as long as several decades. While it doesn't support closure, PRI called for higher payment-in-lieu- of-taxes (PILOT) for the state's general aviation airports. Hartford received a $479,000 PILOT payment from the state for Brainard in fiscal year 2015. That was $734,000 less than the city would have received if the land alone was on the tax rolls, PRI said. ECONOMY & LABOR Project reset looms for 101-111 Pearl sites A pair of vacant downtown office buildings appear a step closer to being redeveloped into apartments. New York developer Jeff Ravetz confirmed last week that his group is eyeing buildings at 101 and 111 Pearl St. into 255 or so living units. Most, he said, will likely be smaller sized units, to cater to young professionals or older, "empty- nesters'' eager to downsize to cozier quarters. Ravetz and the Capital Region Development Authority previously teamed in redevelopment of the former Sonesta/Clarion Hotel, at 5 Constitution Plaza downtown, into The Spectra Boutique Apartments. The 190-unit Spectra is fully leased, and is preparing to open a café in some of its retail space, Ravetz said. Hartford developer Martin Kenny is part of an investment group that currently has title to both Pearl Street properties. Kenny said last week that both buildings are under contract for sale, but no closing is imminent. 13 CT firms top rated for LGBTQ workplace practices Thirteen of the 24 Connecticut companies assessed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2017 Corporate Equality Index for favorable LGBTQ workplace practices received a perfect score. HRC's index is a national benchmarking tool that evaluates corporate poli- cies and practices related to workplace equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Recognized companies earn the distinctive label of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." The firms are evaluated on non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, demonstrated organizational competency and accountability around LGBT diversi- ty and inclusion, public commitment to LGBT equality and responsible citizenship. Those 13 Connecticut companies include: Aetna Inc., The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., and Day Pitney LLP in Hartford; Cigna Corp. in Bloomfield; United Technologies Corp. in Farmington; Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corp. in Ridgefield; Praxair Inc. in Danbury; FactSet Research Systems Inc., Diageo North America and Xerox Corp. in Norwalk; and Synchrony Financial, Charter Communications and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in Stamford. State recovers $7.1M in unpaid worker wages The Connecticut Department of Labor recovered more than $7.1 million in unpaid wages for workers in the state during the fiscal year that ended June 30 — an increase of approximately $1 million from the previous year. A total of $7,147,775 was returned to workers, which includes nearly $1.79 million recovered by wage enforcement staff responding to complaints that owed wages had not been paid, said CTDOL Commissioner Scott D. Jackson. Approximately $1.14 million was provided to employees that did not receive the required minimum wage or overtime, and more than $2.57 million was re- covered for employees when it was determined workers were paid incorrect amounts while working at public contract construction sites. LEGAL City to appeal judge's $4.3M eminent-domain ruling The city of Hartford expects to appeal a judge's ruling that it underpaid a developer for a parcel of land it seized through eminent domain situated near Dunkin' Donuts Park, Mayor Luke Bronin said last week. The city owes the land's former developer about $3 million, according to a ruling in a Hartford Superior Court case involving the city's use of eminent domain to acquire the property, which helped make way for the minor league baseball stadium. "Look, it's obviously frustrating that we may be on the hook once again for actions taken by the prior administration," Bronin said in an email. "That said, we believe that we have grounds for appeal and we expect to appeal." In her Dec. 5 decision, Judge Constance Epstein ruled that the property had a fair market value of just over $4.8 million when the city acquired it for only $1.98 million from CBV Parking Hartford LLC. By using eminent domain for acquisition of the property without acknowledging potential development of the Dunkin' Donuts Park, the city in its appraisals inap- propriately devalued the property, Epstein said. HEALTH CARE MidState, doc group propose Wallingford outpatient surgery center MidState Medical Center in Meriden and a group of nine gastroenterologists who are members of the hospital's medical staff have applied to the state to open a new outpatient surgery facility in Wallingford for gastroenterological ser- vices that include colonoscopies and endoscopies. The proposed Wallingford Endoscopy Center LLC — a joint venture of the hospital, which will own 51 percent, and MidState Endoscopy Center Holdings LLC, a new company that will be owned by the nine physicians with a collective 49 percent stake — is slated to go inside the Wallingford Family Health Center at 863 N. Main St. The estimated cost to build out the space for the center is about $2.8 million. MANUFACTURING Pratt workers' new union contract takes effect About 2,600 employees returned to work at Pratt & Whitney last week under a revamped union contract that provides annual 2.5 percent wage increases over the next 5 1/2 years and pension changes. Members of Locals 700 and 1746, District 26 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) last week ratified the agreement, which is in effect through May 5, 2022. The East Hartford-based aerospace company, a division of Farmington-based United Technologies Corp., is providing "enhanced" pension benefits for current em- ployees, while new employees will be eligible for a defined contribution retirement benefit, said Pratt Spokesman Ray Hernandez. He did not elaborate on the enhance- ments. A union representative could not be immediately reached for comment. Employees will continue transitioning to medical plans with health savings accounts over the life of the contract, Hernandez said. GOVERNMENT, POLITICS & LAW CT's new 'OpenPayroll' web tool provides more salary data Comptroller Kevin Lembo last week expanded data offerings on the "Open- Connecticut" online portal that provides the public with real-time access to state financial information. The "OpenPayroll" portion of the OpenConnecticut website will provide up-to- date compensation data biweekly for every state employee, including salaries and overtime pay, instead of updating that information only once annually as had been done in the past, Lembo said. The updated data will reflect the typical state employee pay cycle and provide the most current payroll data available. It will also allow more comprehensive search options to dig deeper into the data, along with improved data export functions to aid in external analysis. The site is live now at http://openpayroll.ct.gov/. BY THE NUMBERS $7.1M The amount of unpaid worker wages recovered by the Connecticut Department of Labor during the fiscal year that ended June 30 — an increase of approximately $1 million from the previous year. 200 The number of acres encompassing Hartford's Brainard Airport, which will likely be shielded from redevelopment after lawmakers said it would be too costly. 2.5% The annual wage increases secured by 2,600 Pratt & Whitney employees for the next 5 1/2 years, thanks to a newly negotiated labor pact. $29,313 The median household income in Hartford, which is 42 percent of the state average, according to the CT Mirror. TOP 5 MOST READ on HartfordBusiness.com ■ CT's new 'OpenPayroll' web tool provides more salary data ■ 13 CT firms among top rated for LGBTQ workplace practices ■ EPI, CT union slam Yankee Institute report on state worker pay ■ 5 Mansfield apts. sell for $20.25M ■ Lovell leaving as Mark Twain House executive director 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 P H O T O | P A B L O R O B L E S Brainard Airport in Hartford recently secured a new charter service.

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