TERMINEX

By Jesse James
Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- The state of Connecticut has reversed their decision to award a $676,000 pest control contract to a company that lost three of its four commercial licenses in Connecticut for repeated violations of safety laws.

Barbara Waters, the Commissioner of the state Department of Administrative Services, yesterday terminated the 3 year contract with Terminix International Company, L.P. The contract calls for the company to treat more than 300 state buildings.

The Department of Environmental Protection in March stripped Terminix of itÕs licenses in N. Haven, Trumbull and Waterbury because of violations including improper use of pesticides, falsifying records, and questionable billing practices.

The company's South Windsor office was not sited. DEP officials had also accused Terminix of hindering the investigation by refusing inspections and falsifying documents.

Terminix is based in Memphis, Tennessee. It is appealing the DEP's finding.

Steve Good, a Terminix vice president, said that the company expects to win its appeal and have itÕs licenses restored to good standing.

The DAS had ruled that, based on its pending appeal, Terminix was free to bid on the contract. But Atty. Gen. Ricardo Entrhall, whoÕs office is representing the DEP against Terminix said he had ''strong misgivings'' about the contract and had urged that it be rescinded.

During the past decade, Terminix has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to settle pesticide law cases in Connecticut and other states, including Massachusetts and New York.