CONNTACT.COM - Government

Tweed To Resurface Runway

2010-08-09T00:00:00Z

NEW HAVEN — Tweed-New Haven Airport is the recipient of a $1,579,872 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The money will pay for resurfacing the airport’s main runway, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3). “Tweed-New Haven Airport is one of the top regional airports in the country, and this grant, combined with other aid already received from state and federal sources, will help it to remain so. A rehabilitated runway will enable increased access to the greater New Haven area and provide much-needed economic opportunities to the local economy,” said DeLauro.

State Pension Funds Rebound

2010-08-09T00:00:00Z

HARTFORD — State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier announced that the state pension funds, the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (CRPTF), rebounded in the fiscal year ended June 30, with an average net return of 12.88 percent. The pension funds’ net market value increased by $1.5 billion, with $2.6 billion from investment returns offset by $1.1 billion in net benefit payments, to end the fiscal year at $21.9 billion.

Hamden Gets $590K in HUD Funding

2010-08-09T00:00:00Z

HAMDEN — The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has approved funding for the town of Hamden’s annual Action Plan Program and Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2010-15).

The latter includes an assessment of needs, priorities and objectives, as well as a strategic plan for the town through the 2015 fiscal year. It also contains an annual action plan identifying specific initiatives to be undertaken during the current fiscal year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011).

For the current program year, $590,888 in HUD funding will pay for projects including residential rehabilitation, down-payment assistance, financial management and public services.

The overarching goal of HUD community planning and development programs is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a “suitable” living environment as well as expanding economic opportunities principally for low- and moderate-income residents.

As such, the bulk of this year’s HUD funding — $502,288 — is earmarked for single- and multi-family residential rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements to community facilities and down-payment assistance to prospective homeowners. The remaining sum ($88,600, or 15 percent of the total) will help fund various public services.
Additionally, the town was monitored by HUD this year to ensure compliance with federal regulations. According to Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson, the audit unearthed no “significant” findings and the town received an “overall positive report.
“Having managed these funds directly during my time as Community Development Program Manager for Hamden, I have seen firsthand the dramatic impact HUD dollars have on our community,” said Jackson.

State Competes for ‘Marine Highway’ Bucks

2010-08-09T00:00:00Z

HARTFORD — Connecticut has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to compete in “America’s Marine Highway Program,” a USDOT initiative encouraging the development and use of waterways to help mitigate traffic congestion and move freight along the country’s coastlines.

The Men Who Would Be King

2010-06-11T18:53:08Z

Gubernatorial candidates spar, ineffectively, at biz expo

HARTFORD — The six white, middle-aged (or slightly beyond) men who would lead Connecticut into the yawning maw of the next four years made their pitches to the business community at the June 10 Connecticut Business Expo at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

It was not pretty.

L-r: Moderator Insana, Fedele, Griebel,
Lamont, Marsh, Malloy and Foley.

Small Family Business In Big Dispute With DOL

2010-06-07T00:00:00Z

CLINTON - A dispute with the Connecticut Department of Labor has transformed the owners of an East Main Street pizzeria into soldiers in the battle against "Big Brother"-style government.Michael and Migdalia Nuzzo recently appeared on Fox News' popular "Fox and Friends" morning show, on Headline News' Prime News, on NECN and on Hartford TV channels WFSB and WVIT. They also have been interviewed by ABC.com, WCBS radio in New York, and a Canadian radio talk show host.

Blumenthal's Lyme Smackdown

2010-05-10T00:00:00Z

EDITORIAL OPINION

Attorney General and now Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal has once again been rebuffed by the scientific community over his attack on the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Budget Battles Screeches To Stop

2010-05-10T00:00:00Z

HARTFORD - To borrow from Gerald Ford, our long state nightmare is over. At least for now.

On May7, as this edition of BNH went to press, Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law SB 494, "An Act Making Adjustments to State Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2011," which closes a $700 million deficit and reduces the level of borrowing without raising taxes or cutting state aid grants to cities and towns.

Connecticut Man Sentenced In Stock Fraud for Tax and Conspiracy Charges

2010-04-27T02:21:50Z

PRESS RELEASE

Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation

Los Angeles Field Office

Prepared by: Special Agent Michael Moriarty, Public Information Officer

Office: (213) 576-3235

Mobile: (213) 305-9571

Facsimile: (213) 576-3217

Email: michael.moriarty@ci.irs.gov

Defendant in American Fire Retardant Corporation

Stock Fraud Investigation Sentenced to Prison for Tax and Conspiracy Charges

Los Angeles – This morning, a defendant in the American Fire Retardant Corporation stock fraud investigation was sentenced to federal prison for his role in the scheme.

Tarun Mendiratta, of Weston, Connecticut, was sentenced to prison, pay a fine of $150,000, and spend three years on supervised release after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion charges.

In sentencing Mendiratta, United States District Judge Terry J. Hatter specified that Mendiratta’s custodial term consist of one year and one day in federal prison followed by six months at a community corrections center and six months of home detention.

According to his plea agreement, between July 2003 and February 2004, Mendiratta received approximately 1.18 billion shares of American Fire, stock that was publicly traded on the Over-the-counter Bulletin Board. Mendiratta received the stock from co-conspirator Stephen F Owens, the principal of American Fire. The stock he received from Owens had a market of value of approximately $3.3 million.

The American Fire stock that Mendiratta received from Owens was unrestricted and free-trading, the type of stock that is issued to employees, consultants, and advisors who provide bona fide services to the company. This type of stock is registered with the US Securities and Exchange commission through the use of Form S-8. When an issuer uses Form S-8 registration in violation of SEC rules, the stock is deemed unregistered and cannot be offered or sold in without a registration statement being filed with the SEC or a legitimate exemption from registration.

As a part of the scheme, Mendiratta requested that Owens fraudulently issue American Fire stock to two of his aunts in an effort to conceal his ownership of the stock from federal authorities. Neither Mendiratta nor his aunts performed any bona fide services for American Fire that were worth the amount of stock issued to them.

Mendiratta knew that the stock American Fire had issued to him was unregistered and it was issued in violation of federal securities laws. Throughout 2003 and 2004, Mendiratta caused the American Fire stock to be sold in the stock market.

Mendiratta also admitted that, with respect to the tax evasion charge, he failed to report approximately $329,811 in income from the sale of Marmion Industries Corporation stock on his 2005 individual tax return. Mendiratta had received and sold millions of shares of Marmion industries stock in 2005. His failure to report the sale of his stock on his 2005 tax return resulted in a tax loss of approximately $92,347.

Judge Hatter ordered Mendiratta to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on July 19, 2010.

The investigation and prosecution of Mendiratta was conducted by IRS - Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

###

United States Attorney’s Office Contact:

Michael R. Wilner

Assistant United States Attorney

Deputy Chief, Major Frauds Section

(213) 894-0687

Hamden Companies Thinking Green

2010-04-22T14:33:25Z

PRESS RELEASE

Leading the Drive in Energy Driven Business

Mayor Jackson and the Economic Development Department announce the Formation of “The Green Cluster”

Hamden’s businesses are stimulating the local and regional economy. They are part of the growing green economy and Hamden has recognized this by naming the Green Cluster as the Town’s eighth industry cluster.

"On a national, state, and local level, green jobs and green technology serve the dual role of making the world safer for our children and economic development driver. Our entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in this arena, and it is our responsibility as governments to foster the growth of businesses dedicated to greening the earth.", stated Mayor Jackson.

Hamden Cluster are groups of similar businesses that employ a significant number of people, pay a high amount of taxes or who have a significant and growing impact on the local and regional economy. Here are some of Hamden’s Green Cluster businesses.

Urban Miners: Located at 30 Manilla Street this locally based and operated company is creating a market of its own. This business has many functions including the removal of materials from houses and buildings which are salvaged, reused, or recycled. They also specialize in deconstruction which can save a contractor on demolition costs and about 80% on building materials. They have created a market for the salvaged materials that are recovered lumber, old appliances, furniture, building material, antiques, collectibles, and much more at www.urbanminers.com.

Amphenol Corporation: This company is the largest manufacturer of interconnect products in the world and has released a new technology called TapeLite. This technology incorporates Ribbon Fiber Lighting Technology and consists of flat plastic optical fiber construction. This product provides a unique lighting option while never passing any electricity throughout the ribbon giving even more lighting possibilities such as in water, on the ground, and on the exterior of buildings. Amphenol's new technology will provide business owners with a new way to highlight their buildings at night and draw attraction to them like never before, all while driving down energy costs. It will also allow consumers to decorate their favorite room in a way never before imagined; the possibilities for this technology are endless. To explore new ways to make the exterior or interior of a building more appealing visit, www.tapelites.com.

EnerLume Energy Management Corp: EnerLume reduces their clients' energy costs and consumption through their product, the EnerLume/ EM. This product is installed into existing fluorescent fixtures and uses a microprocessor to reduce the amount of current into the lighting panel when the current is not being efficiently converted. The average savings from this is about 15% on their clients' energy costs and all of this is obtained without reducing the lighting level of a space. Visit www.enerlume.com to learn more about how to save on electrical costs.

GreaseGuys, LLC: A locally owned and operated recycling company is leading the way in innovation through an unlikely product, waste cooking oil. The GreaseGuys provide a way for restaurants and kitchens to properly dispose of this waste grease. The GreaseGuys have developed a methodology to turn this bi-product into a clean burning alternative fuel. This process is not only conserving the environment by providing a clean fuel alternative it is also creating jobs in this industry cluster. Their website, www.greaseguys.com, provides more detail to the services they provide to their clients.

United Illuminated (UI): The energy company continues to provide ways for their customers to pursue clean energy alternatives. By participating in a voluntary program that supports clean, renewable energy produced by natural sources such as wind and water they will help create a cleaner environment and be a part of the increasing competition in terms of companies supplying these energy alternatives. UI's partnership with small businesses provides Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs. Those programs include: Energy Management Services such as cash incentives for reducing energy load during peak hours, walk through energy audits, and comparative cost analysis to uncover cost effective improvements to facilities and processes. The programs also offers a Conservation and Load Management Program that provides incentives to businesses who invest in energy efficient products and systems reducing energy consumption which puts less strain on the environment and trims down a business's costs. UI continuously works to help small business find electrical solutions to cut other energy costs. To learn more about these and other programs that UI offers, visit their website www.uinet.com.

These companies help to continue the economic growth in Hamden. They are creating jobs, research opportunities, and forming energy related markets of their own with the products and services that they offer. Because of their growth and success, the Town will work with them to develop an agenda for the Green Industry Cluster to further promote the advancement of these companies. For further information on the Green Cluster or any of the Town’s Business Incentive Program, contact the Director of Economic & Community Development, Dale Kroop at 203-287-7033, at dkroop@hamden.com or visit them on the web at www.hamden-ct.com.