Norwich council authorizes negotiations to buy Chelsea Groton Bank building for police station despite public concern over lease terms

Norwich City Council voted Dec. 16, 2024 to authorize the city manager to negotiate a purchase-and-sale agreement to acquire properties funded by Bond Ordinance 1863, including the Chelsea Groton Bank building proposed for conversion to a police station. The resolution passed 5–1.

City Manager John Salamone told the council the administration had pushed to avoid vacancy and the carrying costs of an empty building over winter. Under the negotiated arrangement the bank would retain possession for up to six months while it finishes relocating; during that period the bank would cover utility bills, exterior maintenance and other carrying charges. "In essence, we are allowing them to stay there but they have to have possession and use their funds to maintain the building," Salamone said, describing the arrangement as cost avoidance for taxpayers. The council noted the lease and proposed contract were attached to the meeting agenda and posted on the city web site.

Several residents raised transparency and ethics concerns during public comment, saying the council and staff had not adequately communicated timing and terms. Joanne Filbert asked why the bank would be allowed to occupy the building rent-free for months and called the arrangement "unethical" if the public was not fully informed. Pietro Rocky Camardella again criticized the council's transparency and said city leaders had failed residents.

Councilors asked staff for details on the lease terms and timing. City staff said the bank must also obtain State Banking Commission permission to relocate and that bank leaders intended to keep a branch downtown; if the bank remained beyond six months the city would seek daily payments (transcript contains inconsistent figures about the per-day charge after six months).

The resolution to authorize the city manager to negotiate the purchase was moved by Alderman Gold and seconded by Alderman Singh and passed 5–1 (Alderman Hayes voted no). Councilors said the negotiated package — purchase price and the temporary lease arrangement — was intended to secure the property for the proposed police station while avoiding short-term carrying costs and preserving the $800,000 purchase price the administration described as favorable compared with earlier interest.

Action: Authorization for the City Manager to negotiate a purchase-and-sale agreement to acquire Chelsea Groton Bank property using bond funding (Bond Ordinance 1863) — mover: Alderman Gold; second: Alderman Singh; vote: 5 yes, 1 no; outcome: approved.

What’s next: City Manager to negotiate final purchase-and-sale terms, subject to any additional council approvals and required state banking commission permissions.