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Library, Board of Education and residents press council on programs, grant figures and litter
Summary
Library and Board of Education representatives updated the council on programming and awards; a resident asked the council to clarify apparent grant-reporting discrepancies and another urged action on litter funded by NIP bottle revenues.
At the Nov. 3 New London City Council meeting, the library director and the Board of Education chair provided community updates while residents used public comment to press the council on grant accounting and neighborhood litter.
Madhu Gupta, director of the New London Public Library, told the council the library is partnering with the recreation department to bring story time, crafts and other after‑school activities to the new community center for children ages 4–8 and said the library is launching an early holiday food drive that will benefit the New London area food pantry. Gupta also noted a local author event on Nov. 6; she asked residents to spread the word.
Elaine Maynard Adams, chair of the Board of Education, said the board will begin offering brief “did you know” updates at future council meetings to highlight student and staff achievements; she highlighted the high school’s science and tech magnet CNA program and noted an award recognizing the district’s budget book communications.
During public comment, Sarah Turner of 115 Riverview Ave asked the council to clarify discrepancies she identified between the Board of Education budget, the city budget and a State Department of Education report. Turner cited a figure of $57,644,066.81 in one report for fiscal year 2025 and said the Board of Education budget shows $36,124,467 in grant funds. She provided documents and asked officials to explain the difference. Council members replied that some funds are pass‑through grants that appear in city accounting and not as direct school budget line items and offered to review Turner’s materials offline.
Robert Buckingham (46 Mansfield Road) urged the council to address litter, particularly ‘nips’ (small bottles), and asked how NIP revenues are being spent; he referenced $36,206.9 in NIP receipts for the April–Sept. 30 reporting period and said he has not seen commensurate efforts on the street. Councilors and the mayor discussed prior uses of NIP dollars—downtown trash receptacles and satellite dumpster enclosures—and said the account is separate and requires council appropriation before spending.
Councilors thanked the speakers and encouraged continued engagement; staff offered to follow up on the grant accounting question and to provide residents with more detailed paving and service schedules when requested. The meeting continued with ordinance votes and recognitions.
