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Council approves $535,000 year-end transfer after heated public objections over fire funding
Summary
The Norwich City Council narrowly approved Resolution 1, a fiscal-year-end transfer covering overtime and legal costs tied to recent paid fire coverage, after more than a dozen public commenters urged the item be tabled as inconsistent with the city charter.
The Norwich City Council voted 5–2 on Aug. 3 to approve Resolution 1, a year-end transfer of funds among departments to close out the 2025–26 budget, despite sustained public comment arguing the move violates the city charter.
President Pro Tem Joe Delucia, who moved the resolution, told the council the transfer was necessary because several volunteer fire departments "refused to return to service," creating an operational shortfall that required paid crews. "We are now six plus months down the road...this $500,000 is the result of people digging in their heels," Delucia said, framing the transfer as a response to a service gap and ongoing litigation that requires legal defense.
Opponents on the dais and in the gallery said the measure improperly spreads the cost of a special fire-district service across the general fund. Matt Simpson urged the council not to treat the resolution as routine, saying, "This is not a housekeeping issue...this is taking money from the general fund and using it to pay for a special benefit." Former mayor and sitting Alderman Nystrom voted no and argued the charter requires the consolidation district to bear the cost.
City finance staff answered council questions during an extended Q&A. A representative from the comptroller's office explained that annual budget transfers are a typical accounting step to prevent departmental budgets from reporting over and that auditors could issue a finding if necessary adjustments are not made. The finance staff said the transfers avoid drawing on the undesignated fund balance.
Roll call on the final motion recorded the following votes: Hayes — yes; Adebayah — yes; Zuccardi — yes; Nystrom — no; President Pro Tem Delucia — yes; Mayor Singh — yes. The motion passed 5 to 2. The council then moved on to other business.
