Norwich council approves labor contracts, adds $35,000 for grant writing; Dodd Stadium decision postponed

NORWICH — The Norwich City Council on June 16 approved two collective-bargaining agreements, added $35,000 to pay outside grant-writing consultants and postponed a decision on the disposition of Dodd Stadium until the council's second meeting in July.

The council approved the AFSCME local 24 22 city hall employees collective bargaining unit agreement and the UPSU 9 0 and 9 11 dispatchers collective bargaining unit agreement by 7-0 votes. Council members said the settlements were covered by contingency funds that had been budgeted earlier in the fiscal year and that the final settlements came in below the contingency estimates.

Why it matters: approving the contracts and the related budget transfers finalizes negotiated pay and benefit terms for covered city employees and shifts already-budgeted contingency dollars into those accounts. The separate $35,000 appropriation directs contingency funds toward outside grant-writing services intended to pursue Community Investment Fund grants, a step council members said is intended to increase the city's capacity to secure outside project funding.

Both labor agreements were presented as planned budget items. City officials described the net fiscal impact on the current year as zero because the amounts were included in contingency estimates made when preparing the city's budget. The council voted 7-0 to adopt both agreements.

On grant-writing support, the council approved a resolution appropriating $35,000 from the fiscal year 2024-25 contingency account to pay the Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) and its consultants for grant-writing services tied to Community Investment Fund awards. Alderman Bettencourt said the city's CIF work has been productive and noted the work has produced revenue-positive results. President pro tem DeLucia said outsourcing the work to NCDC is more affordable than hiring an in-house grant writer. Alderman Singh asked whether the consultant work would be limited to the CIF program; a city official confirmed the consultant role is focused on CIF grant work.

Disposition of Dodd Stadium: Council members moved to postpone action on Dodd Stadium and refer the matter to the council's second meeting in July. The postponement passed 6-1.

Other actions: The council set a public hearing for the city's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation recommendations for July 7, 2025, by a 7-0 vote. The council also authorized the city manager to work with the planning director to execute an assistance agreement to return to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; that authorization passed 7-0.

Votes at a glance - Neighborhood Assistance Act recommendations: moved to the floor by Aldewoman Gold and seconded by Alderman Singh; vote 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 2 abstentions (those abstaining recused themselves citing service on organizations that would be affected). - Dodd Stadium disposition (motion to postpone to second meeting in July): outcome postponed, vote 6-1. - Suspension of rules to add Resolution 5 to tonight's agenda (to appropriate grant-writing funds): passed 7-0; motion by Aldewoman Gould, second Aldewoman Hayes. - Appropriation for grant-writing assistance (Resolution 5): $35,000 appropriated from FY24-25 contingency to NCDC and its consultants for Community Investment Fund grant-writing services; passed 7-0. - Community Development Block Grant public hearing set for July 7, 2025: passed 7-0. - AFSCME local 24 22 city hall employees collective bargaining agreement and related budget transfers: passed 7-0. Funds are drawn from contingency that was budgeted earlier in the fiscal year. - UPSU 9 0 and 9 11 dispatchers collective bargaining agreement and related budget transfers: passed 7-0. Council and staff reported negotiated settlements were below contingency estimates. - Authorization for city manager to work with the planning director on an assistance agreement with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP): passed 7-0.

What council members said: Alderman Bettencourt said the NCDC-supported grant work has brought in grants and that dedicating funds to outside assistance is a revenue-positive approach. President pro tem DeLucia said the city could not have retained an in-house grant writer for the same cost. Alderman Singh sought and received confirmation that the consultant engagement would focus on CIF grant work.

The meeting record shows the council moved through several routine and consent matters before taking up the items reported here.