The New London City Council on Dec. 2 approved a $500,000 transfer from the city’s fund balance to a Capital Project Fund to stabilize the Second Congregational Church after staff declared an emergency to protect public safety.

Mayor Passaro and city staff told the council engineers and masons found severe deterioration in the church steeple and that a “collapsed zone” needed fencing and immediate work. Attorney Lonergan said a "large piece of granite fell off the spire and landed near the sidewalk," expediting the city’s response.

Director of Development and Planning Felix Reyes described the technical approach recommended by engineers and masons: repointing and stabilizing shelf stones adjacent to the clock face and using lifts and specialty brackets to secure the spire rather than removing it. Reyes said crews mobilized quickly and that the city expects the active stabilization work to take roughly six to eight weeks.

Reyes and other staff said about $120,000 had already been committed: roughly $23,000 for temporary fencing and about $94,000 as a down payment to the masonry contractor to order materials and equipment. Councilors were told the $500,000 transfer is intended to cover the total stabilization and incidental costs and to be replenished from the city’s fiscal-year 2025 audit results if possible.

Attorney Lonergan also described the city’s plan to place a municipal lien against the property for the expenses it incurs and outlined the possible legal paths if the owner does not pay, including foreclosure proceedings. Lonergan said a court could order a strict foreclosure or a foreclosure by sale depending on an independent appraisal; in a strict foreclosure, title could deed to the city.

Deputy Finance Director Reinhardt said the funding would come from fund balance and that city staff hope to replenish the fund balance when the audit closes and any recoveries are determined.

Councilors pressed staff on procurement and contracting: Councilor Mueller asked why only the one-page contract form was available for the emergency work and whether supporting documents existed; staff said the contracts were signed expeditiously because of the emergency and that the city did not have multiple fully executed bids at the time of mobilization.

On the ordinance readings and roll-call votes, the council recorded a split decision. The transfer was presented as a first and second reading and adopted by roll-call vote (4–3). Those voting yes in the second roll call were Councilor Peck, Councilor Dominguez, Councilor Clewitt, and President Sadi; those voting no were Councilor Mueller, Councilor Farias and President Pro Tem Hart.

The ordinance directs finance to transfer the funds to the Capital Project Fund to permit ongoing stabilization work. Staff said they will produce reports on contractor progress, effort to recoup costs under a lien, and timing for removing fencing once stabilization is complete.