Nov. 12--NEW HAVEN -- The aldermanic Legislation Committee voted unanimously Monday to approve a new contractor review process, amending the initial proposal to include not just construction contracts, but all bids of more than $50,000.

Aldermen also voted to expand the review panel from three members to five, and to change the name of the board from a "tribunal" to the Contractor Performance Review Committee.

The proposal now goes to the full Board of Aldermen for review.

Currently, the city has no formal process to evaluate and disqualify sub-par contractors. Even if a contractor has performed shoddy work or has gone over budget, if they are the low bidder on a subsequent project, the city may be forced to award them the job.

Purchasing Agent Michael Fumiatti said the city has had problems with contractors not paying the prevailing wage, hiring undocumented workers, and completing work late. While Fumiatti did not provide details of specific cases at Monday's hearing, he said a recent job that should have taken six weeks dragged on for more than four months.