HomeMy WebLinkAboutMisc Correspondence 00 (5) li
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
i
SUBPOENA AD TESTIFICANDUM
TO: Robert Deptula
Sanitarian 1
Town of South Windsor I
1540 Sullivan Avenue
South Windsor , Connecticut DOCKET N0. 86-75 1
G R E E T I N G:
BY AUTHORITY_OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, and more particu-
larly, pursuant to the, authority granted the Commissioner of
Consumer Protection for the State of Connecticut by virtue of
Section 42-110d(cD of the General Statutes , as amended
You are
hereby commanded to appear IN PERSON before the Commissioner or
her representative to give testimony, UNDER OATH, in Room ", I
State Office Building, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford , Connecticut;
at 9 :30 a .m. on Thursday April 3 ; 1986 , wherein Water Labs of
Hartford , Inc . and Rene A. Redwood are respondents in an adminis-
trative hearing.
You are permitted to have an attorney present during your
oral examination'. j
If you fail to -obey the terms of this subpoena, appropriate
relief shall be sought in accordance with Section 42-110k of the I
I
General Statutes of Connecticut, as amended . I
I
i
HEREOF, FAIL NOT, UNDER PENALTY OF THE LAW.
Dated at Hartford , Connecticut this ' 26thday of March 1986 . �
A TRUE COPY.
A T:
' ,r COMMISSIONER OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
Frederick E.Cinordi,Jr.
Deputy Sheriff
Hartford County
I
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
In the Matter of
Water Labs of Hartford , Inc .
d/b/a Water Consultants International, Inc .
and
Rene A. Redwood , an individual
u/b/a/ Water Consultants International , Inc...
DOCKET NO. 86-75
COMPLAINT
Pursuant; to the provisions of the Connect cut Unfair
'1'rzide Praet,.ico:, Act. , Connecticut General Statutes , Section
42- 1 10a et :,:. amended , and by virtue of the authority
vc:::ted in hc:r• by L: , i-d Act , and the Uniform Administrative
Procedure Act, , 11- 166 et seg., as amended, the
of Consumer Protection , having reason to
hc,: t ! ('ve that. Water Labs of Hartford , Inc . , d/b/a Water
Inc . and }gene A. Redwood, d/b/a
,
,
i nt.ernation,_rl , Inc . , hereinafter referred
have violated the provisions of the
,
Unfair Trade Prn(r ticos Act , hereby issues her Complaint
;;tatting her chavgrc:3 in that respect as follows :
_FIRST COUNT
PARAGRAPII ONE: Respondent , Water Labs of Hartford, ` Inc. ,
d/b/a Water Consultants International , Inc. , is a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the,'
.. !�
1, . State of Connecticut , with its principal place of bu , e�s
i
at 359 E. Governor's Highway, South Windsor, Connecticut.
PARAGRAPH TWO: Respondent , Rene A. Redwood , d/b/a Water
Consultants International , Inc . , is the president of Water
I
Labs of Iiartiord , Inc .
PARAt;RAPH THREE': At .all times relevant herein , Respondent z
i
Rene A . Redwood directed or controlled the acts and
praet, i ee:; of the Respondent Water Labs of Hartford , Inc .
PARAr;RAPH FOUR : On or about February 28 , 1986, and at
various Later dates , Respondents , d/b/a Water Consultants
f
International , J:nc . , caused advertisements to be placed in
tho United Stjates mails to Connecticut consumeve. A true
rand r,or-•rect copy of raid advertisements are attached . hereto
as I;•r.hibit A and is hereby incorporated by reference and
made a part oC this, paragraph .
PARAGPAPii IIVK: Tho advertisements referred to in Paragraph
r::(�e i veci tay Connect Lout consumers and included
t,rabl is t,o t)t, ia:,�,d for• a wager test described in 'said
jrivf•rt i nement;:. .
PARAGRAPH SIX : The content , language and format of the
advertisements referred to in Paragraphs Four and Five have .
the tendency or, capacity to deceive in that consumers could
be led to believe that their' water contained chemicals,
toxins , pollutants or other harmful contaminants when such
may not be true-. .
PARAGRAPH SEVI-;i`J : The acts or practices of the Respondents
alleged in Paragraphs One through Six of this Count
'f'
j constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in
I'
violation of Connecticut General Statutes, Section 42-110b,
SECOND COUNT
PARAGRAPH ONE : Paragraphs One through Five of the First
Count are hereby incorporated as Paragraphs One through Five
of this Count .
PAR,1GRAP11 SIX: The tablets referred to in Paragraph Five
are intended to test for water hardness , i . e. the
concentrations of calcium and magnesium in the water , and
are not intended to test for other chemicals , toxins ,
pollutants or other harmful contaminants in the water.
r
PARAGRAPH SEVEN : The content , language and formet of the
advortisements referred to in Paragraphs Four and Five , and
the water test tablets referred to in Paragraphs Five and
Six , have the tendency or capacity to deceive consumers in
th;it cor,:sumcrs eould be led to believe that the water test
:jvo intended to test for harmful chemicals , toxins ,
Po.) or' other harmful contaminants when such is not
tru{,
PARAGRAPH ElIG T : The acts or practices of the Respondents
P p
al1oKed in Paragraphs One through Seven of this Count
constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in
violation of Connecticut General Statutes , Section 42-110b. i
i
THIRD COUNT
PARAGRAPH ONE : flaragvaphs One through Five of the First
Count ,ire hereby incorporated as Paragraphs One through Five
e
of' thin Count .
1
�-7—
_�
! PARAGRAPH SIX : The advertisements referred to in Ppagraphs
Four, and Five included an offer to provide consumer a» With a
free water test or water analysis .
PARAGRAPH SI.V[?N: The water test or water analysis referred
to i n I' ►r rl;rul,t, :3ix in intended to test for chlorine and
hr,rctno;; alld i ;, not, intended to test for other chemicals ,
Lr•x i nn , P01.111i,M)L�; or other harmful contaminants in water.
PARAGRAPH EIGHT: The content , language and format of the
adv-1-1A •sements referred to in Paragraphs Four through Six of
tendency or capacity to deceive
:�,r,::urn ► :, i ►, t.h.►t. con:.►rrricr's could be led to believe that the
w,� t r Lr,:;t; or water a[Mlysis is designed to tort for harmful
p01 1.utant.s or, other harmful contaminants
in i,hr water when such is not true .
PARAGRAPH NIm.: : The acts or, practices of the Respondents
,A I ] "t'ed in P,31-,wr,aphs One through Eight of this Count
con: t. i tut', ur,f'air, or deceptive acts or practices in
of ConneetA cut General Statutes , Section 42-110b.
fF OURT1i COUNT
I';,,"►f;r•�,Ph; Onc- through Five of the First
Count, me hc-,-( t,y into►,I,orated as Paragraphs One through Five
of thin 'Count. .
P0AGj?AP[i S [X : Duving the - times described in Paragraphs
Four and Five of ttris Count , the Respondents transacted
bu:;i nes., under the assumed name of "Water Consultants
International , Inc . ',
-
. Y3
m
i
PARAGRAPH SEVEN : Water Consultants International, jno.. is
not a corporation organized and existing under the laws of }
the Utate of Connecticut and does not have a certificate of
authority from the Secretary of the State to transact t
e
business; in the State of Connecticut as a foreign
corporation .
PAf-AACRAI111 I:IG11'r: The gets or practices of the Respondents
c:i lead in Partrt;raphs Ono through Seven of this Count
evn;;t, i tut.e unfair' or deceptive acts or practices in
vio] ,rtion of C;orrnect. icut General Statutes , Section 42-110b.
FIFTH COUNT
PARAGRAPH ON : Parnf,raphs One through Five of..the0 First
Count. are hereby incorporated as Paragraphs One through Five
i
of this count .
PARAGRAPH S:tX : During the times described in Paragraphs i
Four and Five of this Count , the Respondents transacted ("
i
under the nr;sumed name of "Water Consultants
International , Ir"rc , :c
i
i
f
PAI?A(A01,11 I;VI;FI : its -;pondents hive not failed a fictitious
i
t.r.c l „rinrc c •r 1 i t' i r1.r wi th thy• towns of South Windsor or
ve(I by Connecticut General Statutes ,
t
i
1
PARAGRAPH E.LGHT : 'I'hc acts UV practices of the Respondents
alleged in Paragraphs One through Seven of this Count
constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in
violation of Connecticut General Statutes , Sections 42-110b
and 35- 1 .
•
WHEREFORE, THE PRE IISES CONSIDERED, the Commissioner. of .
�i
Consumer Protection on this 12th day of March, 1986, 'i3sues
her complaint against said Respondents .
NOTICE
Notice if, hereby given you, Water Labs of Hartford,
d/b/a Water Consultants International, Inc . , and Rene
A. Redwood , d/h/a Water Consultants International, Inc. ,
that: in accord�jnce with Connecticut General Statutes ,
Section 112- 110d , "."; -intended , the 3rd day of April , 1986, at
10: 00 O 'clook in the morning is hereby fixed as the time
when , and Room 10t;, St-ate Office Building, 165 Capitol
r
Avenue , Hart ford , Connecticut as the place whepe a hearing
will tie he3c1 before the Commissioner of Consumer Protection,
c30-Signated by her,, on the charges set
fr�ri.}, 3n the C;c,rnpla3nt: , at which time and place you will
h tvr: I;h ri t;h1. t.<, ;,}>pc trr and chow cause why an order should
f
nof, be r nt,cre l reoiui ring you to cease and desist from
violations of Liw charged in the Complaint and also why an
f
�rricr d i rc�ct. i rrlr 1'r'-';1; i t;rrtion should not be entered against
you .
You are hr-achy notified that you shall have the right
t:o file a wri ".01" "n-wer to the complaint and charges
therein stated and a
. ppear at the time and place so fixed for } --
such a hearing IN PERSON or otherwise, with or without
counsel , and submit testimony and be fully heard .
i
MARY M. HESLIN a
COMMISSIONER OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
I
.1
other large companies,may face large increases in future tax tions and credits, most taxpayers will probably be divide
bills as a result. into two brackets — 15 percent and 27 percent — wit
The investment-tax credit, previously granted to corn- relatively simple rules.
parries that invested in certain types of machinery.and Goodman said deductions for home-mortgage interest
ntractors like United equipment, will probabley be discontinued, he said. charitable contributions and "a few other plums" wi
)y the tax-reform bill The investment-tax credit allowed companies to deduct a probably not be cut out. He also said deductions for salar]
cording to a financial percentage, usually in the range of about 10 percent, of the reduction plans and a revised version of the oil depletio
an taxes they pay. allowance will remain.
an Goodman. The "For example,if you have a 10 percent credit against taxes The Senate version of the bill is also likely to includ
Manchester Country you owe of$1 million, you actually owe$900,000" Goodman several investment-oriented incentives and an expands
srrce and investment said."The credit has encouraged companies to invest in plant depreciation system.
is known as the de- and equipment, but it also has allowed a lot of companies to He said he is certain some version of the tax reform bit
would be affected by avoid paying taxes all together." will be passed, and soon. Much of the existing tax system
Goodman said he also expects that a minimum tax will be including the deductions that have benefited big business fo
of accounting,in past implemented for corporations. so long, will be left behind, Goodman said.
contract until it was "Companies like UTC, General Dynamics and General "This is a bill that has appeal to all politicians," he said
law, it looks like they Electric will be paying a lot more in taxes," he said. "And "Politicians love to give election year gifts. And most voter
though the contract is many of these kinds of companies have gotten away for years will see their rates drop and will see politicians sticking it t,
without paying any tax at all." the rich and big corporations.
ill similar to the one Bad news for defense contractors, however, is good news "It is clear ... that business taxes are going to go up on,
:e Committee will be for the average taxpayer, he said. Instead of having to deal way or another," he said. "Somebody is going to have t,
Tense contractors,and with numerous tax brackets and complicated rules on deduc- pay."
)S1.* � deceptiveunkept promises pr , dices
home, discuss the"scary" problem of watd
pollution and show the residents newspapea
and magazine articles about problems iu
their area. The manual instructs thl
Doyle £ ' salesman to suggest that the customers takl
ibs of action immediately because waiting coin
e was endanger their health and even their lives.
Part of the presentation, according to tb
:'ficials ;` manual, is the free water test. The sales
paid, _ included liquid soap and a small water filte
id,she to illustrate how hard water promote
•ighten mineral buildup on household items and pri
costly vents the formation of suds.
Il The sales manual suggests that watt
)ld her s., a softening systems can save customers
given on soap products.
e who A Water Labs official has testified at
$3,500 state consumer protection hearing that
pleting €, F free water test cannot show whether to
)uld be � chemicals are present.
ded up Couple told they would die
three 10
Doyle said she was also instructed by
a cent pany officials that if the customers she
u
.. ited did not appear able to afford the$3,
iethtweeg
e n treatment system, she was to perform
twee +�.. hardness test, tell them their water was f
lindsor and leave.
lances.
e only One young couple who agreed to buy
was system during a visit from Doyle
es
he
the and Water Labs the next day to say they
reconsidered and no longer were inte
com- Doyle said Liz.Carter, the assistant
per her A Water Labs.sales kit. manager, took her back to their home to
to get the couple to change their minds
James Although a roomful of men in business suits color but blue, the mailing warned,residents The couple, who didn't want to be
ipany's attended the seminar, only Doyle, two years should call Water Labs for another free water tified,said Carter told them they would die
ieating out of Boston College, was asked to join the test. they didn't do something about their wa
dit for sales force at Water Labs, she said. Carter also told the couple that hundreds
ended Looking. back, Doyle admits that the Salesmen told to use pressure area residents had purchased systems,
presence of those .respectable-looking men said—but Doyle said the company has
Burns' lent credibility to the business—and she was What Water Labs did not make clear in its sold five.
d with attracted by the promise of a "golden op- first letter was that the tablet could test only Then Carter asked to use the
isiness, portunity: for hardness, the presence of harmless phone. When she returned,she told them
with 40 "They made it sound like it's too good to be minerals.State officials say that no tapwater and Doyle had to leave to install a
Prac- true," she said. in the state is free of those minerals. system at a South Windsor home where
iques. Burns told Doyle and others that they A second letter,slightly.revised after com- toxic pesticide EDB had been found in a
would be given 20 "interviews" each week plaints to consumer protection officials,men- at 600 times the acceptable level,they
with people interested and likely to buy the tioned that the tablet tested for hardness.But When she and Carter left the
water treatment systems, she said. When it maintained that calcium and magnesium, home, Carter told Doyle the call was a
e icon-is salesmen completed 20 interviews,they'd get which make water hard, "are just two of the and just another ploy to get them to buy
$1,000, she said. thousands of chemicals that are potentiallysystem, Doyle said.The couple never
neciondices But Doyle said she never got appoint- your water." m the water treatment system.
ad said ments in a week and was told several times "I heard them on the phone,and they don't The day Doyle was fired, she said,
to hire after meeting-with people who didn't buy make it clear that they're selling called the couple to apologize for her
paid terviews systems" wouldn't be applied to the 20 re-
that those unsuccessful "in-
Id something," Doyle said. "You get to so- the deception.meone- 's house an you're
d they think ' from the
quired for the bonus. Meanwhile, Consumer Protection
rgfield, The interviews followed mailings to resi- state and you're going to be able to tell them missioner Mary Heslin is weighing
sective dents of South Windsor, Windsor, Bloomfield what's in the water. to issue a cease-and-desist order
money and Vernon,warning them of the presence of "And the people that I interviewed could Water Labs that would restrict its a
le said. toxic chemicals in their tapwater.The letters never in a million years afford the system," ing techniques. The attorney general's
y selec- included a tablet and instructions to perform she added. says it is investigating a connection be
ling to an at-home test on tapwater for the presence According to the Water Labs "sales train- Burns' and Middleton's solar-heating
of toxic substances. If the water turned any ing manual,"•sales personnel were to visit a and Water Labs,which uses the same
r01vr111 FJ111 Vwvu1
other large companies,may face large increas
By P.E. McNERNEY bills as a result.
Journal Inquirer Staff Writer The investment-tax credit, previously gr
panies that invested in certain types of a
MANCHESTER— Large defense contractors like United equipment, will probabley be discontinued, h4
Technologies Corp. would be hit hard by the tax-reform bill The investment-tax credit allowed compan.
federal lawmakers are drawing up, according to a financial columnist for Money Magazine. percentage, usually in the range of about 10"UTC will really be hit," said Jordan E. Goodman. The taxes they pay."For example,if you have a 10 percent
columnist, who spoke Wednesday at Manchester Country credi
you owe"of$1 million, you actually owe credi
Club, is also the co-author of a finance and investment
dictionary put out by Barron's. said."The credit has encouraged companies tc
All defense contractors using what is known as the de- and equipment, but it also has allowed a lot o
ferred-contract method of accounting would be affected by avoid paying taxes all together."
the proposed tax bill, Goodman said. Goodman said he also expects that a minim
"Under the deferred contract method of accounting,in past implemented for corporations.
years, they did not pay taxes on a contract until it was "Companies like UTC, General Dynamic,
completed," he said. "Under the new law, it looks like they Electric will be paying a lot more in taxes,"
will have to pay taxes every year even though the contract is many of these kinds of companies have gotten,
not yet completed." without paying any tax at all."
Goodman predicted a tax-reform bill similar to the one Bad news for defense contractors, however
being developed by the Senate Finance Committee will be for the average taxpayer, he said. Instead of
finalized by the end of the summer.Defense contractors,and ,' with numerous tax brackets and complicated i
Wa.terlabs,* unkeptpromises,
By PATTY McQUEEN
Journal Inquirer Staff Writer
SOUTH WINDSOR When Colleen Doyle
took a sales position at Water Labs of
Hartford on Governor's Highway, she was
-told it would be a golden opportunity.
When she complained to company officials
four weeks later that she hadn't been paid,
she was fired.In the meantime,she said,she �M
had been instructed to deceive and frighten
people into buying the company's costly ,;
water-softening system. '
Doyle said Water Labs officials told her
that every sales"consultant"would be given g
20 appointments a week with Pp® people who
were likely to buy,one of the company's$3 500 '
water treatment Systems. After completing
20 interviews, they told her, Doyle would be
paid$i,000 as an incentive to continue.
"I went to a week of training and ended up h �,
with 13 appointments over the next three
weeks," she said. "I didn't get paid a cent £
and I complained, so they fired me."
Doyle said she asked to be paid something '
because four weeks of commuting between
her home in Old Saybrook and South Windsor
was beginning to take its toll on her finances.
But not getting paid wasn't the only
problem Doyle had with Water Labs.She was
uncomfortable with.its sales techniques and
throughout her four weeks, she said, com-
pany officials were reluctant to answer her A Water Labs.sales kit.
questions about their backgrounds.
Doyle was told that John Burns and James Although a roomful of men in business suits color but blue,
Middleton, described as the company's attended the seminar, only Doyle, two years should call Wa
owners, had recently left the solar-heating out of Boston College, was asked to join the test.
business because a federal tax credit for sales force at Water Labs, she said.
homeowners installing such systems ended Looking. back, Doyle admits that the
Dec. 31. Salesmen t
presence of those respectable-looking men
She didn't know until later that Burns, lent credibility to the business—and she was What Water
Middleton and five others connected with attracted by the promise of a "golden op. first letter wa
Sunburst East, the solar-heating business, portunity-" for hardness,
were charged by the attorney general with 40 "They made it sound like it's too good to be minerals.Stat
counts of violating the Unfair Trade Prac- true," she said. in the state is
tices Act because of their sales techniques. Burns told Doyle and others that they A second let
would be given 20 "interviews" each week plaints to consi
Ad promised $1,000 with people interested and likely to buy the tioned that the
Doyle took the job at Water Labs,which is water treatment systems, she said. When it maintained
now under investigation by the state Con- salesmen completed 20 interviews,they'd get which make w•
sumer Protection Department in connection $1,000, she said. thousands of cl
with its own advertising and sales practices, me But Dioyle said
week and was told se she never got 20 and your water."
after answering a newspaper ad. The ad said after meeting-with people who didn't buy I heard the:
the company was holding seminars to hire make it cl
systems that -those unsuccessful m-
salespeople, and guaranteed they would paid terviews" wouldn't be applied to the 20 re- something,"
$1'000' quired for the bonus. meone's house
At the seminar she attended in Springfield, The interviews followed mailings to resi- state and you'
a dapper John Burns told the propsective dents of South Windsor, Windsor, Bloomfield what's in the
employees they could make a lot of money and Vernon,warning them of the presence of "And the p
selling water treatment systems,Doyle said. toxic chemicals in their tapwater.The letters never in a mil
Burns also told them he would be very selec- included a tablet and instructions to perform she added.
tive about whom he hired, according to an at-home test on tapwater for the presence . According t
Doyle. I - - , - of toxic substances. If the water turned anv ine manual_"
Ll S1�Tiit1}�✓i Jt;�il:y°.��i!. drP� ,i': ti:al�t ; r;,;�S,`P1
24 JOURNAL INQUIRER MONDAY, MAY 12, 1986
Water fi Ite r company tied to past pr�blem
s
�
nist Cynthia Bercowetz supplied in- ing her sales training that if a poten- J. Schwane, a department lawyer, ing officer'Peter Barrett ruled las
By PATTY McQUEEN formation on the company's sales tial customer appeared unable to said if there is a connection, those month that the advertising was mis
Journal Inquirer staff Writer practices. afford the system, she was to test previously charged could be cited leading and deceptive and recom
Doyle said she was told that Mid- the water, tell the resident that no for contempt. mended that Heslin issue the order
SOUTH WINDSOR — A local dleton and Burns had been involved toxic chemicals were present and
hwane said Heslin is expected
company that has been accused by in selling. solar- energy systems leave. Sc xPeC Meanwhile,Water Labs has sent
the state of using deceptive before establishing Water Labs of After worried residents com- to make a final ruling on whether to slightly revised letter to more resi
advertising in the sale of water Hartford but.left the business when plained to local and state consumer. issue a cease-and-desist order dents, and Redwood said the com
filtering systems has ties to three the federal tax credit for installing protection officials about the ads— against Water labs this week.Hear- pany has sold several systems.
men who were sued by the attorney energy-conservation devices was and Redwood refused to sign an
general last year in connection with discontinued on Dec. 31. agreement to stop using the The federal tax credit was alarm- HEADACHE
a solar-heating operation they ran. cited ing advertising — Heslin filed a
h t i charging the company Pain Management Workshop.
lan
Although a Consumer Protection as a magnet for solar-energy scams comp g
Department complaint against nationwide. with deceptive advertising prat
p p g - tices. v An Alternative to Drugs
Water Labs of Dartford lists Rene According to Bercowetz, the sun- Wednesday May 14 from 7-9
A. Redwood as resident, the com- burst East promoters .contacted The company also was cited for ' p.m.
pany is closely tied s, James Mid- potential customers through the failing to file incorporation papers Lowe Program Center
dleton and John Burns,according to mail promising valuable gifts to with the state to use the name -
a former employee. those who attended the company's "Water Consultants International Speaker: Richard Goldwasser, Ph.D.
„
Middleton, Burns and five others energy-conservation seminars. Inc. Those papers would have re- Clinic Director, Biofeedback & Stress Management
were charged in December by At- quired a listing of the company's Clinic of Manchester. g
torney General Joseph Lieberman At the seminars people were told officers.
with 40 counts of usingunfair trade of the merits of solar-heating
systems,the savings they offered in Redwood explained at the April 3 Fee: Pre-registration-$10.00
practices while doing business as electricity costs and the availability hearing on the state's complaint At the door-$15.00
Acro Distributors and Acro Energy of a tax credit for purchasers.They that she had reserved the name and
Corp. Among the charges are several similar to those brought were then offered discounts and ex- indicated that she was unaware she TO pre-register MarldlesterC�arr>munityC�ogecle
tras to sign a sales contract for a had broken the law.
against Water Labs in March, in- Call 647-6087 60 Bidwell Street
cluding the use of misleading ' solar water heater. Her lawyer, Mark Dubois, Manchester,Connecticut 06040
advertising and "scare tactics" to Buyers later found that the loans represented Redwood as a young
get people to buy their product. they had obtained through a financ- professional who unwittingly had
Both Acro companies, which in- mg firm associated with Acro alarmed residents when she started
eluded the solar-heating business amounted to second mortgages on her company in December and ov-
known as Sunburst East, were their homes. papers
filing the corporation REAL ESTATE COURSES
located at 359 East Governor's Water Labs of Hartford, calling Pape with the state.
Highway — the same address now itself Water Consultants Interna-
used by Water Labs of Hartford. tional, has sent more than 1,000 Qualit direct-mail advertisements to resi- [II1l 11 Route y Inn
Colleen Doyle, a former sales dents of South Windsor, Windsor, VEpNON 83(Exit 95 Off 1-86)
representative for Water Labs who Vernon and Bloomfield — towns State aware of possible con- 6 Weeks PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES
was fired last week after she com- have been 6 Weeks on. &Wed. Evenings
plained that shehad''trbeen paid in a tecte toxic well water warning of nection nn es.,QMay�19 Classes Start Mon.,�May�19, to�10 p.m.
representative for wager ,..aus wi,u Vernon and 13toomnew — towns - - - -- - • o ..CCn��.����. a �.c,,,,,5
was fired last week after she com- where toxic pesticides have been section Eves:, May Classes Start Mon., May 19, 7 to 10 p.m.
plained that she hadn't been paid in detected in well water—warning of Mon. & Wed. Registration Mon.,May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Fee:$150(Textbook Extra}
four weeks, said Middleton and the dangers of chemicals in tap Redwood said she started the
Burns were in the office frequently water and offering a free test for company in an effort to help resi
and were introduced to her by a pollutants. dents cope with the growing ************************************
superior as the company's owners. problem of toxic water pollution.
Redwood acted as the office -The Water Labs literature does She said she talked with several Holiday Inn
manager, she said. not directly mention that the com- companies before signing a contract EAST HARTFORD 363 Roberts Street(Exit 58 Off 1-84)
pany sells water-filtration systems to market water treatment systems 6 Weeks PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES
"As far as we were concerned, but invites homeowners to calla 6 Weeks Tues.&Thurs. Mornings
„ manufactured by a Massachusetts Mornin s Ma Z7
Rene was the manager, Doyle toll-free number. The mailing in- company called EMCO Engineer- y Classes Start Tues. May 27,9 to 12 noon
said. "Jim Middleton and John cluded a tablet which supposedly p yTues. & Thurs. Registration Tues. May 27 at 8:30 a.m.
Burns are the owners." would. reveal the presence of ing' Fee:$150(Textbook Extra)
In addition, Doyle said that Ray harmful substances in the water. She also acknowledged at the
Day, another defendant in The tablet actually tests for hard- hearing that Water Labs was able to 6 Weeks PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES
test only for hardness and the EVeS., May 2� 6 Weeks Tues.&Thurs. Evenings
Lieberman s suit, works for 'Water ness. presence of chlorine in residential Classes Start Tues. May 27,7 to 10 P.M.
Labs.She said Day was identified by tap water. Tues. & Thurs. Registration May at 6:30 p.m.
other employees as the "national Fee:$150(Textb000 k Extra).
sales manager" for the company. Jim Kennedy, a spokesman in
Customers said confused by Iaeberman's office,said the state is
approach aware of a possible link between
Water Labs and Acro Distributorsonere Howard Johnson's
Solar company used similar Doyle said most of the people she and is continuing to investigate. WINDSOR LOCKS C mere Street(E it 1eOff 1-91)
contacted while working for Water Kennedy said a direct connection 6 Weeks PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES
techniques Labs mistakenly assumed she was a would be "potentially relevant" to 6 Weeks Mon.&Wed. Evenings
state employee trying to analyze the consumer protection complaint Eves., June 2 Classes Start Mon.,June 2,7 to 10 p.m.
The lawsuit against Middleton against Water Labs.thee.water. She said few were able Registration Mon.,June 2 at 6:30 p.m.
and Burns was the result of a six- to afford the filtration system, Mon. & Wed. Fee$150(Textbook Extra)
an Consumer protection officials re-
month investigation by Lieberm
and the Consumer Protection De-an which cost$3,500, at a 19.5 percent fused to confirm or deny knowledge ***************yt***********#********
interest rate. of a connection between Burns,Mid-
Journal Inquirer consumer colum- She said she was instructed dur- dleton and Water Labs. But Steven
partment. It was launched after Northwest Catholic
WEST HARTFORD 29gh school
� 29Wampanoag Drive(Off North Main St.)
TOWING COUPON-- '�"'—�""' 6 Weeks PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES
-------�"�'—�—�—� 6 Weeks Tues.&Thurs. Evenings
1 24-HOUR 1 Eves., June lO Classes Start Tues.,June 10,7 to 10 P.M.
1Registration Tues.,June 10 at 6:30 P.M.
1 � 1 E LLY'S TOWING 1 Tues*. �& Thurs. Fee:$150(Textbook Extra)
1 R 1 ************************************
1 So. Main St., Windsor Locks, CT 06096 1
623-01 93 1 These Courses Meet the-Minimum Requirement
1 Present This Can Not 1 of the CT Real Estate Commission.
1 p Be Used 1
Coupon At With25 %FFIat
DISCOUNT With Other 1
1 Time of Towing Discounts 1 CO,NTIN000S PROGRESS
1 FF ANY TOWING
1 Valid foral or Long Distance 1 EDUCATIONAL CENTER
1 Not Va Valid 1
1 Unlawful # Cars OnFery Until 528-5704
1 MotorActs Vehicles and Wheelift Available Sept. 30, 1986 1
TOW1 NG-COUPON
Kle
ar build g for
an s wor cre
d0 about tWo the move, back 7p bfcgan i'�Parin
it, build- eet from the g tAe b a try.
ee
be g, Which has by digging holes road, The
cellar.Steel lust a nano around the Perrneatin a»°ry, thOuBht the chu
the church to support Were places under the former T g its ever
Pport it,Letsk a perfect spot. Y rafter and rrh• with histo Ma"''kw wDpeetau.At
"I Then Y said. hursdaO -bra `�
the structure Y, Brooke �',Was the ho ha,�alea trhe4
n't hydraulic jack. A Wooden
was elevated 3 build' Mallory stood 1 Peal be of re We,nstein•s a
route to the site of ooden track.Was feet With a bri ht n new ookin ment. PPo1
set aloe g« °Oc sun, gPlace'squintin gat her In a letter last Februar
ed the lot. the new foundation at the r g a bit in the meno
A cable was hooked ear of move tou lust trust them urged Wet �-
w he to the building she said." When they appeal to Weinstein to purslue the
st, g from the And when it's done Y they can the limit because—just thrilled. That's the only ,You're meno said p'1Veili Massa-
pt thrilled had Who ruled he o
tin_ � �� Y way to describe it.,, authority i ep my
1 _ lajlS T Power before biin clear ythe coin-
had the
f • � , clearly
i th - � es ti f y Coln , intoGoldfarbs law tco duct the inqu�y
ile, BYSTEVEN GIELD pany s LetterIwo Courant Staff Writer CaUsed ws hwane� Al yi
Ide State and to asked Peter Barrett, a l The Whole proceeding a1 m
I at a hearingwn officials testifyinghearing officer for
en- in °c a dece r Protection Department
Consumer Y using an at bo a rabbitlt closed half a
g complaint against Wind_ mend that Comment, ecom_ Heslin must issue a W tablet in cup
Jed sor water-treatment
a South Wind- t0 r case with' rulin �water. P of 1Wce-
de- Thursday merit co Heslin issue a c�issioner Ma in 90 days g°c the If the color Y had r cease-and-desist order Dubois said Water L the hearing but blue you Produced is anything
i he 150 calls fro a eceived abon that would prevent Water Rene Labs Pr Y may 8
the by a letter fro homeowuers alarmed us mg the advertising. Labs from A 'Redwood President problem Y have a
m the compau Violation of the order °nl employee is ' the company's is using,,,m With the water
Your potential
e Water Labs °f Ha would sub- diffe ' eager to settle an g�"the letter r family
South Windsor led Hartford Inc. lent the company tole rences with the state, Y Witnesses fro .
l a lieve that mers to fines. gal action and At issue is a letter the Services De In the Health
's letter was a test for tnclosed oxic he But Mark sent Feb. 27 and 28 co lnPan tan Payment,flee Mel o with its attorne Dubois of Hartford, an G,000 households more Y District Comm' P°li-
a when , fact it was micals Y for Water useholds in four to than towns of Bl �1On and the
ge hardn a test for week-old com Labs,said the 5_ The letter was head sor said 0 had infield and South
e law 'said Steven J.SchW peter carded 9,000 pang already has des- and crossbones with a skull calls they had received about 0
yer with the s ,a letter in unused c°Pies of the ger. Your Drinkind the words"Dan- their water residents who feared
Consumer Prot state Department of to chap question and has promised Harmful to g Water might be
�e- The result,Schwtane said 8e its adve Your Families Maybe COntainlnated
It to man state's satisfaction. itising to the "Every day more and Health. What rpus } e o blet had turned the
Itt- W �' di°meownees 'Was that The co iimuiiities discover thatmore corn. RedwoodP pink,instead of blue:
m slpr,South W BlOOmfield, the 40 inpany has not sold an icg near toxic Waste dum they are liv- d she was not tryin
icdsor and Vernon has in Stater Purification syste s it ground been eonPs'or atop pow ofithee an she
She said
ock and that has g
has not ch by chemicals taniinated tends to tablet — which she ur-
rated or letter su the letter read. use in future Raested that The to show mailings_is
homeowners stances that water can
that cannot contain sub.
be detected
0
r
MEMORANDUM March 24 , 1986
To: Richard J. Sartor, Town Manager
Re : Water Consultants International
On April 3 , 1986, Water Consultants International are to
appear before the fraud division of Consumer Protection
where a hearing will be held dealing with the acts or
practices of this firm.
The hearing will address the issue as to whether or not
the content and language of the mailings may mislead
consumers into believing their drinking water contains
harmful contaminants when, in fact, their water may not
contain such contaminants .
Robert De tula, R. S .
Environmental Health Officer
RD/ml
cnem. with signs showing which wal
The company,calling itself"Water Consul-
tantswhichpurified.
International" in its mailings, sent out P
several thousand letters in late February.Its Ji PHoros BY micwaeL Kooas
letter, topped with a skull and crossbones,
included articles about the dangers of toxic
chemicals in tap water and the test tablet.
Joseph Lembo, legal officer.for the Con- determined is only a test for the presence of its advertising approach but will continue to have well documented their sources."
sumer Protection Department, said the de- chlorine, Lembo said. include the pill in its mailing. She said the Redwood, in the meantime, said sl
partment's complaint alleges that. the The department is also charging that the letterhead is being redesigned. tends to sue the Consumer Protection 13
language used in the letter and the pill"tend company is using the name "Water Consul- Water Labs is an independent water-treat- ment for violating her right to free six
to deceive" the consumer and are illegal tants International illegally. _ ment e co
equipment dealer for EMCO Engineer- Water Labs and consumer protectii
Engineer-
under the unfair trade laws. Redwood defended her company's ing of Canton, Mass. According to company ficials had reached agreement Frid
co Lembo said the letter implies that the advertising practices on Wednesday. spokesman Owen Doonan, each dealer is al-
tablet will test for toxins when the health "We can no longer sit in in blissful ig- lowed to develop its own marketing methods the company's advertising, but Hesli
department has proven — and Redwood has norance," she said. "The issue is not just with the approval of EMCO. fused to sign it when Redwood asked 1
admitted — that it only tests for mineral chemicals, there is a possibility that all Doonan said he has seen Water Labs' clause be added stipulating that the
content, which is harmless. water is not healthful.We are not using scare advertising and approves of it. ment not infringe on Redwood's rig
The letter also encourages people to call tactics." "The marketing is theirs," Doonan said. "debate the issues and facts of water
for a free water analysis,which the state has Redwood said her company lias modified "They did thorough research and seem to tion in the Connecticut marketplace."
01*1 companies could f antitrust charges
By TOM CARUSO under the state's Unfair Trade Practices Act, conclusion about antitrust violations, he ad- wholesale pricing for franchised dealer
Staff Writer which prohibits price-gouging,Langer added. mitted that some service station dealers face independent dealers, but he-said it re
Major oil companies face antitrust Price-gouging usually means hiking prices in difficulties because of the pricing policies of the major's costs and has nothing to do
prosecution if an investigation shows price- cases of limited supplies —such as increas- the major oil companies. price-fixing or collusion. "Yes, that,al
fixing or collusion to keep gasoline prices at ing the price of batteries after a power "If you're a lessee of the major oil com- has been true," Hansen said of charg
the pump artificially high, the state attorney failure. pany, you have a lot less latitude, in some franchised Shell dealer more th,
general said today. According to the gas dealer association's cases none, to get some competitive advan- wholesaler buying Shell gasoline.
"If we find price-fixing or collusion—and executive director, Wayne Konitshek, four urge from the price of gasoline," Lieberman Shell charges more to franchised dE
major oil companies—Shell, Texaco, Mobil
that is a big if ... we'll initiate antitrust said. because it costs it more to deliver to the
action," state Attorney General Joseph I. and'Exxon — between Nov. 1 and Feb. 25 State law forbids the major oil companies said. Shell assumes the storage, transl
Lieberman said. lowered wholesale prices to their franchised from operating service stations in Connec- tion and insurance responsibilities the
And the assistant attorney general in dealers by 6 to 10 cents a gallon. ticut, but they are permitted to act as dependent dealers don't, he said.
charge of antitrust and consumer fraud en- At the same time, Konitshek complained, landlords by owning the property and station As for why pump prices haven't fall
.forcement, Robert M. Langer, admitted that prices were lowered by up to 25 cents a gallon and leasing it to a franchised operator. fast as crude oil prices, Hansen said thi
preliminary charges by the Connecticut for wholesalers, including those who Konitshek says he supports a state an'average one-month lag between
Gasoline Retailers Association of such viola- g legislative proposal to forbid the major oil . prices and pump prices in most of the
tions are worth probing. purchased brand-name gas from some of the companies from owning real estate. By con- try. According to Hansen, West Tex
"It looks funny and it's something we're same major suppliers. - trolling the property, he said, the majors termediate crude - a benchmark bra
looking at," Langer said of pricing statistics control street prices. crude—takes a week to get to a Gulf
provided Wednesday by the association. Claims franchises pay more Shell Oil Co. would vigorously fight such a refinery, two weeks for processin
According to Langer,an antitrust violation .Franchised dealers thus were forced to buy legislative proposal, a spokesman for the another week to reach the station.
would involve either agreement among com- gasoline at artificially high prices,he said- Houston-based corporation said Wednesday. New England pump prices take even I
petitors to fix a price — called a horizontal a violation of the state's antitrust laws. At a Although Shell owns only 5 percent of its to reflect crude oil price decines, he
price case — or agreement.among three or Capitol news conference Wednesday, 11,000 nationwide service station, it wants to because most of its gasoline comes fro
more levels in the same chain to fix prices— Konitshek said he would bring his complaints maintain that right spokesman Richard G. North Sea. It can take up to two mon
called a vertical price case. . to Lieberman. Hansen said. such crude oil to show up as refined ga
It's possible but more difficult to prosecute While Lieberman later said he's reached no Hansen admitted there is dual-level in Connecticut, he said.'
16 JOURNAL INQUIRER THURSDAY, MAR CH,13, 1986
Company' ' sa s water system works, state say' s no
Y
By PATTY McQUEEN
Staff Writer
The. state Consumer Protection Depart-
ment issued a complaint Wednesday against
a South Windsor company that is selling ;
water purification equipment, saying the
company's advertising practices are decep-
tive and misleading.
Commissioner Mary Heslin ordered an
April 3 hearing on whether Water Labs of P k ;•
Hartford Inc. should be ordered to stop
claiming that most tapwater contains toxic
` a v
chemicals; The company has been mailing
literature and a tablet that supposedly tests € '# o
water for harmful pollutants to residents of
South Windsor, Windsor and Vernon, among
other towns. p
Meanwhile state Health Department of-
ficials say the type of equipment sold by
Water Labs of Hartford for removal of toxic i
chemicals from drinking water is not effec-
tive.
Department spokesman Paul Ritsick said
the company's"reverse osmosis"equipment
is"not a recommended means of treatment"
for water polluted by EDB and EDC, toxic M
pesticides that have been discovered in some F:
residential tap water.
Ritsick said the best way — and the only
fie
Way the department recommends — to re- "'' . '
s.
move toxic chemicals is using a granite-
activated carbon filter.
But Water Labs President Rene A. Rene Redwood, above right, tells a
Redwood, who held a news .conference Hartford press conference that
Wednesday to answer questions about her Water Labs of Hartford will sue the
.firm,insisted the reverse osmosis equipment
will remove pollutants — including EDB, state for keeping the company
EDC and toxic heavy metals. from selling a water-purification
Redwood's 3-month-old company has been ; ,
under investigation by the state since some . product. At left, coffee heaters at
residents of area towns who received the
literature complained that it was alarming the press conference are marked
them. with signs showing which water
The company,calling itself"Water Consul-
tants International" in its mailings, sent out which has been purified.
JI PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KODAS
i Services,said last week that the pill ll�LG—LV� . IV/LVW i MV kvV/Lv I Vt
actually was a test for water hard-
ness,which interferes with the suds- By MARJORIE RUSCHAU� national attention since a story "I don't mind his ui
a !ng of soap but is not harmful to Courant Staff Witter about his work appeared,in The display, but it's differ
health. Courant late last year. him and put him.on di
"It's not even a very good test for The artist sat on the floor in the But Elaine Knight said the"fame She did allow a crei
hardness," Robert C. Sanborn, hallway at Greater`Hartford Com- has not chdnged her son:"She still to film Jas in Novem
i health director of Bloomfield, said munity College,surrounded by ad- has to call several times to get him she isnot sure how the,
Wednesday."It doesn't tep you how miring fans attending the opening to come to lunch and has to explain film.
hard your water is." of his one-man show Wednesday. why-he must go to his own-art Jas's painting of Al
. "I think it's deplorable that a le- "He has a sort of rhythm and shows. coin has been promise
- gitimate company:makes the public confidence that allows him to jump "He says, `I saw my pictured seum of American P
panic," he said. "How can they say to form,".an onlooker said. "With already,' 'his mother said."When being built at .the Lt
they're not trying to alarm people, two lines he defines a nose." he's asked for his autograph, he Hartford. -
with a skull and crossbones?" "He has a good feeling for form, says that's so silly. Their name is After aone-man st
The state hearing will be held a good grasp for shape," said Ron just as good as his." vember, Elaine Kni€
April 3 at 10 a.m. at the Consumer ` Buksbaum,an art professor at the And that is the way Elaine started to get some of
Protection Department's offices at college. Knight likes it. framed, "instead of
165 Capitol Ave. If the department The artist is 8 years old. - "I want to keep it fun.I want him them under the bed,
sets restrictions on Water Labs'ad- Anthony "Jas" Knight does not to stay a little boy as long as possi- dresser, in the close
vertising and the firm violates them, lead the typical life of a third,grad- .ble,"she said. them and putting then
Water Labs would be subject to a er.This is his third one-man show, , So when people call and ask to "We've thrown awa
lawsuit and possible fines, Heslin and his drawings and paintings will buy Jas's works,often without even we've kept. If we'v
a said. be on display through April 8. seeing them, Knight turns them we've thrown away
. At a press conference Wednesday Jas appeared bored by the whole down."It's not a thing I feel really said. "He usually wot
a in Hartford, Water Labs President thing.He practiced cartwheels and 'interested fli at this time." told him he has to mal
i Rene A.'Redwood defended her 3- muttered a few words when people When representatives of NBC- Jas never had any
week-old company, saying it legiti- asked about his work. _ TV's "The Tonight Show" wanted training other than h
matly sells home water-treatment The Hartford youngster is.fea- Jas to be a guest on the show, classes, and Knight s
i equipment manufactured by the turgid on the cover of this week's maybe draw a picture,Knight did not plan to enroll bin
EMCO Group of Companies of Can- National Weekly Reader,a maga- not encourage it;and they seem to said he is a very inde
i
ton,Mass. zine for children, and has drawn- have lost interest. son who knows what h
"We're not using scare tactics," I -
Redwood said."We have not,we will
not,scare the public—the issue is •
scary enough."
- Panel Allows S irit Contes# Redwood said the purpose of the p
i pill was to indicate that water can
contain substances not visible to the By JON EISEN before allowing the contests to gain thrilled with the decis
eye. She said the firm, plans to Courant Staff Writer momentum. "I'm shocked. Oh, t
f change its advertising but will con-
"Members- of the board made ful," said Patrice Wi
tine to include the pill•with its let- Students throughout the state can quite a concession and they're not year-old sophomore.
mom• display their spirit.boldly, a state likely to treat future applications in get back to work and
In addition, Redwood said, she school activities group decided the same way," Arvid H. Anderson, again."
i plans to sue the Consumer Protec- Wednesday. the board's chairman,said. Williams said spirit
tion Department for infringing on A.ruling by the Connecticut Asso- Students at Bloomfield High sagged after students
i her right of free speech. ciation of Secondary Schools allows School said they had collected more could not participate
I "It's a First Amendment issue— students to participate in two radio _ than 10,000 index;cards bearing their until the organizatiot
i commercial speech is protected," "School Spirit" contests. The radio names,the name of their school and "I'm going to start fir
i said Eliot B. Gersten of Hartford, stations will award prizes to the the slogan of WTIC-FM in-Hartford again,"she said."Evc
y -one of Redwood's attorneys. schools Whose students submit the when school officials said they had to Stacey Price, 16,
Joseph Lembo,a legal officer for most index cards with the required abandon the effort because the or- more,agreed.
' the Consumer Protection Depart- information._ ganization had not sanctioned the "Everyone will get
meat, denied that free speech is an The organization's Student Activi- : contest. spirit," she said. Be!
Issue in the case.. ties Board of Control decided the The school that submits the most writing was stopped,
' "All we were looking for was to activity cannot be approved, but cards in the WTIC-FM contest by eryone was into it,ev
assist them in putting together -schools that participate will not be March 26 wins$5,000 and a concert But high-school Pri
something that wouldn't violate"the punished .because some principals by a band to be named later. Schiavone said he still
law,he said. did not know they needed approval_ In Bloomfield, students were_ if he will allow the co
Ojai i l
} c a Sa s State Will Order Well Test(
I By JOSEPH A.OBRIEN- But, in December, town officials on this whole issue," he said." For tion.
Courant Stpff Writer said chemical pollution had been about two months we.have had no Petrillo said then
i found in another home in the Rain- communication from the DEP on told the town the soul
WINDSOR—The state will order bow Road area,mi ground water and this issue. ... But we,have worked had been eliminated.
ti the Hamilton Standard Division of in a stream. with them for years and would be said the source of v
United Technologies Corp. to test James R.Parker,chairman of the happy to sit down with them." had been eliminated,
wells and other underground water Town Council's Health and Safety In 1980,17 wells were found to be might be some 1inge
supplies in town for possible new Committee, said Paul A. Marin,` contaminated. contamination.
chemical pollution,a Windsor town principal environmental, analyst At that time,tests found solvents Marin could not't
' councilman said Wednesday. with the state Department of Env!- as concentrated as 1,000 parts per comment Wednesday
r The Hamilton Standard plant is in ronmental Protection's water com- billion. The federal standard for Petrillo said Wedn
Windsor Locks, just over the town pliance unit, told the committee maximum safety is 330 parts per would discuss with h
F line near the Rainbow section of Tuesday night that an order for the billion.The main solvent found was should be sampled ar,
northern Windsor. new testing will be issued to Hamil- trichloroethylene, a degreasing of the order before
gations,wMen oversees the meaicai Au L. nameu of wiunington, um., tering long uways anu orusque treat- pammogists are to oegin tneir roves- Ur.ti.Wayne t;arver ii,the a
examiner's office. Leslie Lukash of Nassau County, ment from Galvin's office when they tigation Monday at the University of ty medical examiner who is run
House's "quarter century career N.Y.,and Eleanor McQuillen of Bur- sought autopsy reports on relatives. Connecticut Health Center,said Dr. the office in Galvin's absence,
in the judiciary,capped as it was by lington,Vt. - - Lloyd said the investigation will Bernard Gondos, a member of the he believed fears of reprisals i
seven years as chief justice, makes Last week,Galvin went on a paid cover not only the accusations about medicolegal committee. "unfounded."
him eminently qualified to assess the leave,using vacation time,after the Galvin's dogs,but also"the general Although health department offi- "This is a society of laws,for G
situation facin us,"Llo d said. ac tions became public. There administration of the office,includ_ cials last week had said the investi- sake,"he said.
C ov 3��=
State Says � � r
Firm Used
Scare Ads,
By STEVEN GIELD .
Courant Stgff Writer u
The state Department of Consum-
er Protection has issued a complaint ;3r
against a South Windsor
water- IA�
treatment firm,saying the company � '
sent thousands of alarming and mis- � k
leading letters about water safety to
s R? ' 'o
residents of South Windsor,Vernon, R �� k
Windsor and Bloomfield.
Consumer Protection Commis-
sioner Mary M.Heslin said Wednes-
day that her department will hold a
hearing April 3 on whether Water f
Labs of Hartford Inc. which is based
in South Windsor,should be ordered '
to change its mailings.
F •.
"We're claiming that they used '
misleading advertising," Heslin '
said.
The letter, sent to thousands of
homes two weeks ago, was headed'
with a skull and crossbones and the
words, "Danger: your drinking wa-
ter may be harmful to your families
health."
The letter suggested homeowners
test their tap water with a pill that
was enclosed.
"If your test indicates a problem
(any color but blue) it may only be Joe Tabacca/Special come courai
scratching the surface, the letter AnthonyJas"Knight takes a breather Wednesday during the open- The display of drawings and paintings b the 8-year-old Hartfori
said."There could also be hazardous• Y g Y g P p Y g P � g y y
toxic pollutants in your water." ing his one-man art show at Greater Hartford Community College. student,his third show,will run until April 8.
Beth Weinstein, a spokeswoman
for the state Department of Health
Services,said last week that the pill One-Bork Show Becoming Routine for 8- Year-01dArtist
actually was a test for water hard-
ness,which interferes with the suds- By MARJORIE RUSCHAU national attention since a story "I don't mind his work being on and just how a painting should lool
' ing of soap but is not harmful to Courant Staff Writer about his work appeared,in The display, but it's different to take It .was his father, Arthur,
health. Courant late last year. him and put him,on display." draftsman who spends any spas
MEMORANDUM March 10 , 1986
To : Mr . Richard J . Sartor
Town Manager
Re : Mailings from Water Consultants International
On Friday , February 28 , the Town ' s Health Department received
several inquiries concerning the referenced mailings . Many more
calls were received during the next several days . The letter
from Water Consultants International made reference to
contamination by hazardous wastes ; and also referred to a "test
tablet" enclosed within the packet .
Regarding the tablet , written instructions directed the receiver
to dissolve the tablet in water and observe the color change .
The letter also stated--"If your test indicates a problem (any
color but blue) , it may only be scratching the surface . There
could also be toxic pollutants in your water : "
Despite the obvious inplication , the "test tablet" is only an
indicator of the degree of water hardness ; and the blue color
could only be obtained if there was no hardness present . Since
hardness is an indicator of mineral content--and most all water
contains some minerals (such as calcium or magnesium)--the blue
color is almost impossible to obtain .
The "fraud" division of the Department of Consumer Protection ,
and attorneys for the firm , are presently confiring . The
results of these meetings are not available at this time .
A
Robert Deptula
Environmental Health Officer
RD: prb
3 _r�-86 cP� D��.-
0'R'�v�,. '� . � _ _ Fyn._ at.�., _ 3 �/__86�
.cam
AfF
-god
02 �/3- C ?l
_
YV��
o _
......a ..�..r...,4tnnw.....--....,__
2-J0URNALhNQtj112P_R TU8SDAW;MAPCH 4, 1986 • • - • • -
ut water purif company
Officials check o
By PATTY McQUEEN reported getting the same letters. grant application to get funds to pay for Mitchell also suggested that the pill could
Staff Writer Sartor said the state Health Department extension of public water lines to residents be dangerous
wCounecilmanhilAlfred
is examining the contents of the pill, while whose wells-are contaminated.
SOUTH WINDSOR - Town and state ion is -
officials are investigating a company that is the Department ofConsumer ater Consul- leading magazines, including one articles from
involvement ementin the exception
Monday, saying
sending literature and a pill that is supposed investigating io company, a the town
to test water quality to residents here and in tantsaddress in'West The
but Sartor cover l letters show a re- "Timeetter Ir from the company.Water," and
letter ing whether should the t mailing be is 1 fraudulent.
Bloomfield, Town Manager Richard Sartor turn
said Monday. said the company,has an office on Gov- tells residents to use the pill to determine if Kupchunos said he had problems with
The mailings, which include articles ernor's Highway. there are any "hazardous toxic pollutants" Mitchell calling the company fraudulent
warning of toxic pollutants in tapwater, In its literature, the company calls itself in their water. If the water turns anything before he had more information.
there could be pollutants in the "I can't see how the.council can get into
apparently have disturbed some residents "a manufacturer of municipal and in- but blue, warns. looking at eve piece of mail," he said.
whose wells are being tested for the dustrial water purification and treatment water,
the or John company itchell said he received "That's not the role of government. I don't
presence of the toxic pesticides EDB and systems worldwide." y
EDC "I know ere are valid concerns about the mailing and tried the pill. His water Shunos notpeople
d t that 1 said many com-
Town Sanitarian Robert.Deptula said the EDB and E ,"Sartor said."These tactics turned red, he said. this whole panes send samples of their products .to
literature and tablets are being mailed,to are dangerous and could create a level of thing is,fraudulent"s is a test hardness,sd."Those are residents, and it is up to the consumer to
people served by the Metropolitan District fear."
e or the Consumer
Commission, as well as those with private The town .is testing local wells, and really strong articles and could raise a lot of protection Dep the artmentcnot the council.
wells. He said Bloomfield residents have groundwater for the chemicals as.part'of a fears."
,. ; . � , ,. Ita nt
w receipts. .o.n a merilo
tsto consuS
myth sa she II shop Y
y
By PATTY McQUEEN
Staff Writer
SOUTH WINDSOR — Democratic Town a.
Chairman Robert Smith told town committee `
r,� a
members Monday that he will provide them '
h s
with receipts to prove that$3,500—not$6,000
ns
— was paid to campaign consultant Naomi
Hammer last fall.
During a sometimes-heated meeting that
was scheduled at the request of 10 committee ,
members, who wanted 'information about 3
possible errors.in the party's financial re-
ports, Smith said any discrepancies found in �dS
those reports are simply mistakes in
,
1>
arithmetic. 1
Smith,who has said he will step down nexti'
month, also distributed copies of a signed
statement saying he has possession of a$430
committee-owned computer 'software
p the baiTuale l
y, ~. y n e .7 fd� �an? =AII a roD T e� ja_n�ecx$+Q� _ whether
.s Y
r I d` • I'C+D1"e .4 i�.l,""tT s f, . L'� W`ire avi �
et3IsmL,e e
ale `
money fi sought for the t t.
Central MiddleSchool renov nt
.' a� .: , anon £
k Cks a o e Sped educa on students a r,� eH ' '�' 'culate ;
g he,borrowed reel th orma o a `
} the daY,' `w ee cliair ramp for a race"ey»fed you more,and that s + e town t the 8 ,
Tan $ °Childr ' P NeWing�II *; :
en 3Ibspltal •"; _ Awls We�ndns,the grou f . paY f architectural se �'
' � 4 '1'he top of ffe'
education teacher P s specal d to pay for "'°ye
the ramp rests , said the wod buildin co mry'for the
said he i ,
j � tt )strikes fkeresl airbaabed us auIo'SX . mnsig c� '.`along`with rt,� tablehe e sat ] e. p _ gYum and ho .. >�'eb.25 w
b said: then dro y g -Tramp, memak tneetin ,
i; ps the Ball onto'it. Est g ,help the students T * '#y ''d gives Ahlber '� ilisoriaI and community the finance board. g cut the wood for ;the r nimtnuty skillsas ' wn` �. ,- the
' �*� raiiip,but the students hel Well as those that ma' Iead to a ob.�` :and the iron av`.
eY ailable
pek 'one together.aad Paulo helper P it Sum $ vibes'' lu 3 mmends.;that the
and1. sanding _'Sometimes'the with fihe x :Ong twice a`mon g b9wt ,�faPproPriation ,
Paulo ;even put their hands'cja:to o °uld th,help Paulo de- r �made the Y
velop "self-confidence� smatter} presented T t0 the
o when R'e were cuttin' `he'
P >�uIIe said. It's somethin Wendus sale amen again for a vote
` is .. g� he said. ] g that he t h c '
`It fee kind of n � his m sees ►
Peers ilO Aa r s
r
. �, thing like that and eat to see some- i+it, too''When w now he can<do `: '
rpaulo's '.ate reward of that,
t an immedi he'd get a lotof .took him befo � 1e11 Rt8e ,
ashe 80 He W 8 bowl an he's gutter balls.N pTo Maintain ;
g ne'�a :that,".Attlberg rsaid�. excited :after of him�lf'g and�pPY and proud ' � '!'he.town r ROad r
d, All �? � ��, will no improve or
d car. Ahlberg, who ;taught at 4 t ;The bowluig outings teach the" maintaui Lakeview Road,a
„. ° Hartford High School for 27 students how to beLave in public private dirt road the Board of L `
�3 a now s lits years and help P lit r Selectmen has decided.
of'the P time between the P improve their social
high school and the middle school: �g gives the cial
BMW. And bow' `Selectmen do not want to set
Y` gs like He said he dents_Aomethin ;.whatthey consider a teem. gains from'workin 8 the can do with-- dangerous
with the handica
s Pl> 1 studeIIts ,, fheir parents,Para Said )example bytaking over g
�. ustrial ;There's rewards that you don't =It vast that Don took the },get with normal hi responsibility,for the
initiative to The roadway.
high school kids.' the Tsids make the r Iakev iew Road r e i that
lr three One of the biggest rewards is when ' , :Wendus said ".He didn t ` Road residents get
tly for one of the kids says have 'to do 'that'. 'Bu ';together:to discuss drama
t ys thank you You_ worked on it togethert,,everyone surfacing work n drainage and
u .., 4 , _ ecessary on the
_ road �y 2
�p f# aln SO ty p.a Sin Vandal�sn>t
her,
,�,. . 5}x ?� eSldents >n order j
Wood, .(�0 • - ,'4 x ". �� nd theft ofmtowa bat vandalism
lJ
n > • � z, ,s road signs,the
t� ray A r, a�n AbutIal A
`a offe .Righway Department
k, B 1 } �S ,- �g a}$25 reward f is
Hale EN ,, „ - t_ a , =s {;;:. ; ¢ f rovldiII or one
Y, Courant�Corr DO , water test. ALso incuded �{ a $ Oi'>Hation'leading.to
Mo a es�ondent
each letter were re with . wriest and conviction of those
ea ,
James , . Plaited articles < res ible j ,.
' ,:�a�A from Tune pone
Rich _Jfirm UTH WINDSOR magazine wad Readers : r'Information pvil�be h
has'been"mailui Digeat on toxic waste con 's <cbnfIdentuiI and �t Plea r alarmist advertisin g residents'°' on of r = f na,�' - should be
drinking water s ;h e t
until qualit `Town g on 'water_, The cbm ..Ported fAhe resident
Alfred �'' Manager Rachard J : Pay woi$4 with a '
state • -
R Sartor said Monday. ; _� } anti f acturer of Water Pet'at 537 61 or 53?2989'+ a
tion d ces °(� purifica rPoliced r �-
Smith Sartor ;said several residents` evi
have reported receivin _ `These kinds of tactics "
orsed from'a firm B letters n 0 sell products ,<m order ': x HART O
.� calling itself Water ous 'are v anger-d , RD
e�DCOnsultants'7nternatfonaln� ,and inspire a highleve oft ' :
eth R iWoc�at.Hartford, which acuallgf >be0r sazd. Council mein 'PIJb�IC
Abra �h w°a-Governors Highway m "be ha,m faid ul f ed the pill could TOday- Tri ' £ ,
erne-"* indsor ,,; r t On 12if ,swallowed by cWl xra Arta 5h,n!tY
m L M The letters are headed th a The compan could t ' Walker Connor,a sperm
skull and crossbones and the ,. t
�.-y, y not be 1 „n nano IIahsmsp�
1, Mi �words-Dan er o a, Qr contacted for °ra Ethnic laIFnso II `'
0
Lanza, :Ater° Y be h Y king wa ,�Sartor said Comment. ; qr fJ, a „ The Quest
J:Pil dies health„a Yrmful to your fain A ym8 the state laboratory is'1 AY at rs3tandin = i a lecture
who
i .., , coaiPosition of P. at Trinity :
„r'1'hey includeased Ce a the' kpilL e t College /
' �ur�it Ca
be used determine the ,�41f ed ocratic m mbar `Re nn0KJohn•
p y;of to •s , G.Ku me er pro
el W t, �t 1� tap" , t � ,. pchnnas said bis feI scienee at. p o essor of poltacm
a)f your test indica ` low council members Were _ tY,a E
John tee a rob. to moron ;posh
em 'aII p criticize the g created by a i12 milli ;
Cath Y color but blue) it ma ; �• ,�, is a on nest ,
oiieo�rN°mY , aciatehmg }hen i �o'u�ncil star�ing'to.look at evo �e former president and ' '
tfThere could also hazardo : ""g sent is the'mad7»-he" �Y, ipubIisheT of The+Co>" ' t
cho, z-lc llutants us toe , ,I don't.think it's the obli asked. died ui 1979. �vho } , � ,
gngne } �' ,...
i ,y for a fT ur water'�4 b Ens the-obligati
of
council to ga on FHis public l #he�
3 v M ;ee�no obhgatlon *pnvate p` ,l gment OII �`s00d gene-6f
m 'wui'�'hea e4' r', �.. a S ,� 3' ���ie-A�""'�+ € �
�4� z s3 �S �• �* box�A� A Center at Trfnit will
F r p {
yg i H
� s�rrvrA� ti- �i
-
�'r �t�y t .; : ,�i. .,_Y r'�� y t� J � +' �a 1�5" �y ft4 �:t'•} ,y; y r�- 7 '� ��y�{�'� T"� t =y �i t'3�''+
* ;• .; � °t -l � � �.� Q``, a -y a'w.- - _ �¢�.,, -,#tit- s'�r 5}:fig ski# .r�^'§yw ,�ti 3.'
S#
v
-
cur
`Lod V��eG6►v _
Joe-
3 ��
Z--
eA
_ _ 6� 2 y3
�c?�."�._..itil.c_.�'�r�.✓. _. .._.._._.._Svi1�7i✓�17� �0.ff_ ��_
she cannot.spear..our,vw—-.--------- - ress her was auxicuit w„a.-•-r--•------ -
ouzzing down the west- on a board or uses a typewriter to ell the institutional atmosphere.
in his Electric wheel- thoughts. When they began to make plans to leave,;
motorists and dwarfed The DeLucias are the kind of.people who some members of he hospital's staff gave them:
were once believed to require total care in an little encouragement,they and Werboff recall
-
were noise and just think institution, said Susan Werboff, the advoca who nev make idone nurate...How could you fthe aides—theind peoplsaido e
.aid Jody DeLucia, the the state Office of Protection and Advocacy take care of You?...How will you pay them? - -
rapped into the chair. helped them find an apartment-
'q tare you going to do if you're sick?"'Jody-
,u are afraid,you won't Shepherd Park is a large, federally subsi-_ said.
dined apartment complex on Sisson Avenue whose Dr. Katherine Ill, medical director at New
,by,were fearful people, tenants are either elderly or disabled.Apartments Britain Memorial Hospital, said, however, that
moved a year-ago to for disabled people, such as the DeLucias, are she encourages residents such as the DeLucias to
nts,from New Britain equipped to meet their needs to a certain degree. join the-community,despite the difficulty of W-
:h was their home for Katy and Jody admit they grew up in a ing the steady help they will need.
world where even they believed they would be With the help of Werboff and other profes-
sZ,have cerebral palsy, happier,safer and less burdensome to their fam- sionals in the past year,the DeLucias have found
Heir motor control,leav- ilies if they lived in an institution. answers to problems and to have on life ag'
few years that that is far more satisfying
ites ;the switch on his It has been only in the past institution.
although his words often they began to develop the confidence to believe See Kathy,Page D4;
id. they could live su fully it the commVu&ts'•
�o
Treatm
ent Firm s Letter* Turtle as
Worries bborn
Causes Water Stu
By STEVEN GIII.D. _ alarm or deceive anyone, ...
Redwood
ntS writer As a muk, .
Coura
People receiving the letters may
aOUN PormAS
The state Department of Health have been alarmed by recent televi- By
Courant Correspondent
Services said Wednesday a South sion episodes of"Nova"and"60 Min-
x Windsor water treatment firm may utes" that discussed hazardous ESSEX^Bad duck was no
have misled residents of three towns wastes and Water pollution,she said. stranger to the USS Turtle,
by suggesting their water could be The company's letter is headed America's first submarine,
contaminated., -.with a skull and crossbones and the which flubbed its first mission
Letters sent from Water Consul- words"Danger:your drinking water and was destroyed on its sec
tents International to-residents of may be harmful to your"families and in the Revolutionary War.
h The only working re-cr6
South Windsor, Bloomfield and health." The letter "suggests that
South Windsor suggested erroneously that homeowners use theanclosed pill to- anon of the Turtle lived up to
�. an enclosed pill could be used to test their tap water. its ancestry Wednesday when
L detect water pollution, said Beth «H your test indicates a problem a group of sailors from the U S
Weinstein, a department sl*re- (may color but blue) it may only be Naval Submarine Base in
woman: . scratching the surface," the letter Groton found themselves en
,They implied the test is related to says."There could also be hazardous tangled in the vessel's curse
possible contamination of drinking " toxic pollutan or a in free,no our bliga novelty7was to be transferred
water," Weinstein said. Actually, Call today from the Connecticut River
Weinstein said, the company's pill Lion water test:' spokesman for Museum Essex;where it has.
- Todd Rosenthal,a spo
., tests for water hardness. been for 10 years, to the USS
° ,� uestion of the Metropolitan District Commis-
We"felt there was a q „ she Sion,said about 60 people from the Nautilus Memorial and Sub
whether it was mksleadmg, three towns called the commission marine Museum in Groton.
said. this week,saying they had received Tuesday,where it would be on
' s The state Department ear. Meanwhiler
of Consum- the letters and were concern tit workers at an for a the Nautilus Muse-
` er protection is investigating the let- the safety of their drinking um would build their own ver-
tens at the Health Services Depart. "It alarmed the people, obvious- sion of the famous vessel,
meet's request,said Clifford Degan, iy," which was designed in 1776 by Rosenthal said.He said
a spokesman for the Consumer Pro- mission asked the Health Services David Bushnell of what is now..
tection Department. Degan would and Consumer Protection depart- Old Saybrook:
not continent further on the investi- ments:to study the letter and the pill. See Sailors,Page D7:
gation. "We felt it was essential to calm
i to The courant our customers,"he said.
Rene Redwood,a chemist for Wa- Members of .the South Windsor
rain-robbing ter Consultants, said the company the Tom Conion.is on vacation.His col
*on to Riba- , sells water treatment equipment. _ Town Council, which discussed
bmpany. " The eempany thinks its letters are letters YAonday,also received calls mm�will�cesume w11en lie returns' .
approlit'iate and is not trvina to
onlytests,
f6rmine '
� -� � .�� � :�ra�sEl
.,,
y PATTY McQUEEN
Staff Writer � .
State health department officials have de-
termined that a pill mailed to area residents
by a South Windsor water consulting com- {
pang to test tapwater for pollutants actually
tests only for mineral content.
Department spokeswoman Beth Weinstein Time for reflection AP PHOTO
said laboratory tests show the pill can only Anna Beddon, an English fokeign exchange student at markers in lace f
indicate whether the water'contains common • Ontario High-School in.Ontario, Ohio, puts swimmirr p or the swim team's practice. The windows
-
-.and harmless—minerals like calcium and p 9 pool 'behind her are magnesium. She said she doesn't knowmirrored on the pool's-still water.
Whether the pill itself might be toxic. •
The test results have been sent to the fraud •
Woman'
division of the state Consumer Protection fiedto C O
Department, which is conducting an in a i n e. k n gpin vestigationof the company's advertising By DAN BARRY arrested
Practices, Weinstein said. Ivey had been accompanied b Woods or that
Residents of South Windsor and Bloomfield STAFFORD Staff
former r Vernon woman "That would be a super grab,let' Her lawyers argued that Ivey had come t�
Woods is in the area. the hotel.;after receiving a rambling
have received literature during the past week linked to,fugitive cocaine kingpin Arthur G. "That
said.
from Water Consultants International Inc. Woods Jr. was arrested here this week on Ivey had remarried aboutg s face rt, telephone call from Woods, cared'for hirr
The mailings included articles warning of charges of violating a probation agreement according to emar ied said,,8 Seems 1' after his overdose, then tried to conceal the
toxic pollutants in tapwater and the small stemming from a drug conviction. she was trying tt get her ai back together."otslike drugs from police out of loyalty to her cousin
pill,-with instructions to drop it in tapwater to Kathleen Hiltz Ivey,27,of Pensacola,Fia:, like Woods was arrested several more times in
test for "hazardous toxic pollutants." Pure was arrested when state police Detective escaped .from a federal y 1982 °n state and federal drug-trafficking
water is supposed to turn blue, according to 1 Richard Littell,acting on a tip,spotted her in Duluth, Min his father — who recently charges, including an East Windsor incident
the letter. prison camp in • in which in .was found unconscious with his
front of a Route 190 drugstore where she had; running a major drug ring that transported two
operated and may still be head resting on a satchel containing.about
"If your test indicates a problem — any been shopping: State police at the -Troop C cocaine and,marijuana from Florida to Con-'
color but blue ... there could be hazardous barracks said Wednesday tliat Ivey had been necticut. Pounds of cocaine worth ialmostn
January
1 000.
983,
toxic pollutants in your water," the letter, visiting relatives in the area. on Then Woods disappeared in January 1983,
topped with a skull and crossbones; warns Ivey was presented Wednesday in Windsor, body of the Son, officials known as have said the gaunt cover er his er ° bond companies had agreed to
The health department launched an -in- Superior Court 'and released on $10,000 bail: with sores from years of intrave '� bail.
vestigation after it got calls from people She is to appear again in court on Marchbai' ing a$1,000-a-day cocaine habit"Gizzy' is covered During his father's 1984 trial, federal
concerned about the test.;The mailings a intravenously feed-, prosecutors and a government-paid infor-
g P Ivey is Woods'first cousin and was roman- Ivey was arrested in April 1982 and charged. shortly after he fled the state. Theyounger
parently disturbed some residents ,whose .tically linked to him.in testimony during a with various drug charges when lice seizedmant said Ivey had followed Woods to Florida
wells are being tested for the presence of the 1984 federal trial. She worked for Woods at , pearl a
,'toxic pesticides EDB and EDC. - j Po Woods' wife, Patricia, testified Ivey as
According to South Windsor's town owned in Vernon,and followed him to Florida $22,000 in cash,in the Harley t e Char-Laine Manor convalescent home he cocaine,.along with diamond's and more than sidence.
Y quarter-million dollars worth of staying with "Gizzy" at ,his father's re-
sanitarian, Robert Deptula, the pill would when he fled the state in January 1983 while Also arrested in t
only- turn tapwater blue if it contained no facing a slew of state .and federal drug Although federal drug Hoteiin Enfield. Police in Pompano Beach, .Fla., who,
minerals, which is highly unlikely, char es. he hotel was Woods. caught "Gizzy" Woods in 1983 and then re-
Consumer Protection Commissioner Mar g suspected Woods to be traffickingofficlinsd drugs sai had d that Hiltd him a and her 3-year-old son w
ere
lso
Heslin said she couldn't comment yet on the lived with Woods and his father, Arthur G. time.a hint of his extensive Y Court testimony also indicated that she since 1979, the Enfield incident was the first staying investigation, which she expects to be com- Y g in a motel room rented to the elder
pleted by Friday. She said the department youn s Sr. in were wanted,1983, while the elder and publicized. operation was Woods. But she escaped as well, they said.
has had difficulty reaching representatives of Following aplea-bargaining agreement, husband shad oldsher lshe had Pied that her
A source -familiar with the Woods in- Ivey was found guilty of one count of with Hiltz, and .had suggested.the three
the company, whose mailing address is in vestigation said Wednesday it is believed that possession of,a controlled substance fallen in love
West Hartford. The company has offices on "where Hiltz is, Woods isn't far behind." coined i one-year suspended sent
Governor's Highway in South Windsor. a and re- them live together. of
But Littell said there was no evidence that nears' nrnhatin„ ,.,a once, three "That was hig-,irk .,,;.,a
• 494 Main ht.it approwu,it,wvu s� Douglas Owens of•rorringwu,v-5".
to the Board of Directors for adop- in Torrington Monday. The two are seniors at the Oliver Wolcott schoo
. tion.
Of the town's 448 employees, 123
—or 27 percent—are women,and
four—or 1 percent—are members �eet Coventr y
of minority groups, the affirmative Voters Re
action report shows. In 1977, the
town employed 91 women and two ROGER CATLIN to get its education package togeth- Oppo
: members of minorities among its By Writer er,"Town Council Chairwoman Joan ing the
436 employees. Courant Staff Lewis said Monday night. increas
• If the goals for 1991 are realized, The bud et which went o refer- council
four more females and 10 additional COVENTRY .— Voters rejected endum after�a successful petition meetin
minority-group members would be the towns $9.3 million budget pro- drive, was defeated 563 to 454, ac- proprig
• added to the municipal wok force. posal in a referendum Monday,and a cording to Town Clerk Ruth E.Be- rate in
The five-year goal shows the mini- new budget probably will not be sub- g rent ra
mum hiring goals the town,expects mitted to a town meeting until at noL wis blamed"last-minute misin- Lew.
to reach by 1991, based on popula- least June. put ut out by people who swayer
tion figures. "As long as we are at this point,we __line."
"It's not the top limit by any ; might as well wait for thelegislature
better"for the defeat.
means,"Parry said.• 5
In the 190 report, the errs Of Orders Company_goals were to have 14 members of State .1
minority groups employed by July
1987..That has been scaled down in • T
the updated plan to a goal of six Stopminority employees by nest year To
Ad Campaign 1,
and 14 by 199E
Parry said the low number of mi-
ELD that prompted the order.
nority•employees stems, in part, By STEVEN GI
from commuter patterns.While peo- Courant Staff Writer That advertisement was a letter
the company mailed in February to
pie may go to work in Hartford, six
where minorities make up at least 55 A South Windsor water treatment about 6,000 householdwna Br and
percent of the population, not as company has been barred from field, South Windsor,ad a skull and o
many travel from Hartford to Msaiht Vernon.
d. needlessly alarm homeowners advertisements about crossbones above The letter hthe message: er,
chestier for employment,Parrym,
At tonight's meeting,the commis- the safety of their drinking water. "Danger. Your drinking water may
sion also is expected o discuss the The state Department of Consum- be harmful to your family's health."the letter nil
police recruitment a wasthat ended er
extended desist Protection
rdern has issued a cease-and-against Water Labs of sand could test foras a bwatlet eraquality.ec na
Thursday. The drive be
for a month after
terfew 5 closingW date using advertisementsrd barring
that mighttionCommissioner Mary M Heslin
applied by theApril
Extending that deadline 30 days "deceive consumers'into believing said the letter implied the tablet was n in o
brought in an additional 45 applica- that their drinking a or oth- factains a t it was a test for water hart for toxic chemicals hdues _ p�
tions,Parry said. A total of 259 ap- chemicals,toxins,pollutantsF
plications has been received. Of er contaminants when such has not Th"Danger. Your drinkie new letters retain ng water
these,46 are minority.males and 24 been determined." ing, ,
are women.One of the women also is Water Labs,a 10-week-old compa- may be harmful to your family s T
ace of the skull and
a member of a minority group,Par- iY y, sei s home-waterntreament crossbones ish- health." In 'a skeleton's head on a- h
ry said.
The town's Police Department equipment manufactured by EMCO barrel that is leaking a dark liquid. o
never has hired a member of a mi- Group of Companies Inc.of Canton, Bloomfield Sanitarian Lauippa has complained that the a
nority group in its 88-year history. Mass. n
"I was hoping to get more[appli- Steven J.Schwan,an attorney for new letter could alarm residents of t
cants]," Parry said, "but a lot of the department,said Monday Water her town who receive safe water
: those who came in look well-quali- Labs
e1 sounes d face a lawsuit and t violates the order. - from mission Metropolitan District Com- t
Pied." Heslin's order also bars Water Labs from stating that it can per-
f s
Parry said she expects the police Rene A. Redwood, the company
hiring process to be completed by president, said Water Labs has al-
: August. ready changed the advertisement orm tests of water quality..
•
..
nites
Hobb
Tolland House Fire I
was
ed
nds
By MATT HEW MOSER one firefighter was treated at the extensive d the house
he declined to sayth4
Courant Staff Writer scene for smoke inhalation. y�
The fire broke out shortly before .whether the ammunition played"a-
e fire. do
TOLLAND — A wooden h us on Route a yellow,
ut mile sne-stoouth otf I- paLittellrt in spreading
hove erh called the fire he
thi
stocked with a hobbyist's guns
ammunition erupted inflames Mon- Gerald
The owners were identified as "suspicious."fuse' a suspicious," Littell—ni
day, imperiling dozens of firefight- Fare officials describ F. ed Gerald added, "until you find out what
ers and killing a pet.dog. n enthusiast who reloaded caused it. sh
'The house at 593 Merrow Road Can'as a order Tolland firefighters were joined
: burned for more than two hours and spent cartridges
using gunpowder th
and ammunition stored in his base- ment at the from Wlling
ene bi� onl and Coventry, d,
firefighters said they were threat-
ened by occasional bursts of explod- ment.
"It was a time bomb set to go off," Vernon,Ellington and Mansfield.
ing ammunition. Firefighters struggled at times hi
No serious injuries were reported,_ the fire chief said.
- but Fire Chief Ronald Littell said Deputy Fire Marshal Richard Sy--with low water pressure but man-- n
_ _