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Council fails to add $64,714 crossing‑guard appropriation to tonight’s agenda; mayor says administration will seek funding
Summary
A motion to add an immediate appropriation ordinance to restore five crossing guards failed to reach the votes necessary to add the item to the Sept. 2 agenda. Mayor Michael P. Passero said he would work with school administration and return with an appropriation ordinance within two weeks.
New London — A proposal to add an ordinance to the Sept. 2 City Council agenda that would have appropriated $64,714 from fund balance to restore five school crossing guards failed to secure the votes needed to add the item for consideration, councilors said Tuesday evening.
"This city will be remiss if we do not do something to protect the safety of our students," Councilor Sadi said when moving to add the ordinance to the agenda; Councilor Mueller seconded. The motion to place the ordinance on the agenda did not reach the five‑vote threshold required under council rules and was not added.
The proposed ordinance (listed in meeting discussion as ordinance number 09‑02‑25‑06) would have funded security/crossing guards the city had previously provided at busy school crossings. Proponents said the appropriation was a modest, immediate safety measure; opponents said the Board of Education controls the school budget and must explain its internal spending decisions.
Mayor Michael P. Passero told the council the administration can pursue a funding path, but urged the council and board of education to coordinate. "I would prefer, if you do that, that you allow us the leeway to find a funding source," the mayor said, and added that the administration would prepare an appropriation ordinance for the next council meeting and seek cooperation from school administration to administer the program.
Council discussion highlighted competing claims of responsibility. Councilor Dice urged residents to bring questions to the Board of Education, noting that school officials set their own spending priorities. Councilors who supported the appropriation said public safety for children was the overriding issue.
Although the immediate effort to add the ordinance to the Sept. 2 agenda failed, the mayor said he would work with the superintendent and return with a formal appropriation ordinance by the next council meeting (the mayor indicated an appropriation ordinance could be on the Sept. 15 agenda). The administration also asked the council to avoid dictating a specific funding source such as an immediate draw on the fund balance without further review.
No appropriation was adopted on Sept. 2; the question will return to the council if the administration presents an ordinance for vote.
