The Connecticut Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Board met in Hartford today to continue its work on the state's licensing program for auto glass and flat glass technicians in the state.

The group, whose fractious meetings have become noticeably calmer lately, spent the majority of its time dealing with the routine issues of supervising a licensing program.

On the auto glass side, the main topic of discussion was the recognition of on-the-job training for technicians who have been working for a substantial period of time, and whether the third party administrators are assigning jobs in Connecticut only to shops that are in compliance with the license program.

During the open floor discussion of new business, the question was asked if the board was aware that insureds were being referred to shops that are not licensed by third party administrators. Steven Palmer, Windshield Doctors, Oakland, Conn., stated, "The lists which are being used are the same old lists that were in place before licensing became mandatory. The TPAs are out of state and just look at a list not whether the glass shops have licensed employees."

Glen Moses, Safelite Glass Corp., made the point that the agreements with the networks say that a shop is complying with all applicable state laws. "It is incumbent on the shop to be sure it is licensed if it is required by the state," he told the group.

It was agreed that if the department gets a list of the names of the TPAs it will draft a letter pointing out that Connecticut has a licensing program.

On the flat glass side, the main issue of discussion was licensing of members of the Iron Workers Union. The group had applied to have its members grandfathered into the program, and the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) told them that it needed further documentation of their program before this could be granted. This was never followed up on and no one from the union was present at the meeting.

Richard Hurlburt, director, occupational and professional licensing division of DCP, said that it should be taken off the agenda because "no one had been back to our department and they are not present today."