[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6463866,"mediaKeyId","5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189","parentId",5784856,"title","Votes at a glance: Norwich council approves seven resolutions including three property sales","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4796000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189&start=4796&end=4796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189/thumbnail_4796000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463866/Norwich/New-London-County/Connecticut/Votes-at-a-glance-Norwich-council-approves-seven-resolutions-including-three-property-sales","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463866-f07e49a5c6179dfa20238c890633e63c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775014934&Signature=enpHTgFz8StZx3lVk-p8TZf-Ld6-aLn0xV4HQDcVLq03LA0gFezNslRbS8E19vOtqfLg7EDYZQ0dfHMZRoMfqItUQAkKXnwn~WLtUoQ01RnDmPSTtAe0ykG7Mg77tvhpO0l9fxnn4X-Xwi3HMNAbXtzGeyWJrD0iqBe9kKd1b71NmB0dPZ2lR5Qs3yeQBeZ60Khn7elwtTJDlF8SotQ7UtacygshZ4rgtlIjUghQ~m8JuRhEzGB-SxPESSC6-nO8AZhcT~jaRPkLggv5isoQCHLiZxtmeQLAG2FBDKFZ~vWd~-mLZUvN6t7b2vur-6dIcfP5-tLwDruCOJZPZNLX3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Norwich, CT","date","2025-09-18T13:02:07Z","article","The Norwich City Council on Sept. 15 approved seven resolutions and several administrative items in a single session, voting unanimously (7-0) on each roll-call vote.

Resolutions and actions adopted include:

- Reappointment: Peter Shelachy was reappointed as a regular member of the Inland Wetland and Watercourse Conservation Commission (Resolution 1). Vote: 7-0.

- Capital reallocation: Funds were reallocated for laser scanning and CAD documentation of the former Chelsea Groton Bank property (Resolution 2). Vote: 7-0.

- Police equipment: Capital funds were allocated for replacement of the police department\u0000s in-car radio systems (Resolution 3). Vote: 7-0.

- Parking lease: The city manager was authorized to enter a lease with 337355 Main Street LLC for 15 parking spaces at 301 Main Street at $2,700 annually; the lessee will maintain the spaces (Resolution 4). Vote: 7-0. City Comptroller Josh Pothier said the figure reflected negotiation and responsibility for maintenance resting with the lessee.

- Property sales: The council added and approved three separate resolutions to sell city-owned parcels to abutting property owners (Resolutions 5\u00009):
- 20R Huntington Lane (Map 60 Block 1 Lot 17): Sold to Nancy and David Burnett for $52,000 (tax collector\u0000s winning bid). Vote: 7-0.
- 153 Norwich Avenue (Map 63 Block 1 Lot 42): Sold to Carolyn Salucci for $62,000 (tax collector\u0000s winning bid). Vote: 7-0.
- 76 Boswell Avenue (Map 93 Block 6 Lot 37): Sold to Thomas Smith for $4,500 (tax collector\u0000s winning bid). Vote: 7-0.

Councilors briefly discussed the agenda-addition process during public comment; one resident urged clearer agendas and fewer redactions in meeting materials. The city manager\u0000s report covered routine items including public-works projects, seasonal leaf collection and ongoing senior and youth programs.

Each resolution was moved, seconded and adopted by roll-call vote with all seven council members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned after the final vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-09-15 Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its Sept. 15 meeting the City Council unanimously approved seven resolutions and a series of administrative items, including reappointment to the Inland Wetlands commission, capital reallocations, funding for police in-car radios, a parking lease, and three property sales totaling $118,500 in agreed bids.","taxTitle","Norwich, New London County, Connecticut","taxId",4639,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6463870,"Norwich council approves purchase of additional natural-gas capacity tied to Algonquin expansion",1772,2074000,3846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189&start=2074&end=3846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189/thumbnail_2074000.jpg","/articles/6463870/Norwich/New-London-County/Connecticut/Norwich-council-approves-purchase-of-additional-natural-gas-capacity-tied-to-Algonquin-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463870-aaeae5d62b70874550383890cc1ad007/orig.mp4?Expires=1775014934&Signature=msrEgzj2Kkt07i8WDGG1-gktPU9APkXK5pQMTeDg8mOKwwiDP5vE4QvS2zLPVG646994tL1MLowIMd8ieQBbgdAWk0RVLc0M0XYNRdWRxUUq3NUyw3K6oXOQdYm-u8ZT7jGHpoXD1REAaMVTHWECeTBCFOVQpDp6TdzR0b3ICqtStvqX99nFJCfftqF2Pfz9aQMbfaMs3gv6KgdBaNSjn3A4oJxIuM9v70Ah2mfs5oMba7hppOPKmRQXdVpmlNkYYnyo5VBfXC2k89sq7IaQmoMZWa8Dx629rOXQdT0Cc-w8Q7bYuY5secmGmM7Cc7X8xtL8Vj6Go1G8d5-XjcI5KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Norwich City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Sept. 15 authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to pursue additional pipeline capacity through the Reliable, Affordable, Resilient Enhancement (RARE) expansion project and to enter related agreements with Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC.

Chris LaRose, general manager for Norwich Public Utilities, told the council the project would allow access to lower-cost natural gas sources primarily from the Marcellus Shale and that the utility\u0000s subscription would be roughly 1,000 decatherms per day — roughly an additional 7% of the utility\u0000s highest daily natural-gas capacity. LaRose said unused capacity could be remarketed to offset costs and that the projected in-service date for the project is Nov. 1, 2029.

Public comment included environmental and safety concerns. Mary Ann Victoria McNallen said expanding pipeline capacity and reliance on gas will harm public health and the environment and criticized the pipeline owner (Enbridge) for a record of spills and for hiring police to respond to protests. “Fracked gas is not clean,” McNallen said, and cited incidents and pipeline-safety statistics. LaRose responded to questions about document redactions by saying the redactions were requested by the pipeline company to protect commercially sensitive transactional material, and that Algonquin (operated by Enbridge) is the pipeline that serves the utility in the region.

Council members asked for clarifications on consumer rate impacts, timing and local benefits. LaRose said the project\u0000s capacity would be assigned to the gate station off Yannick Lane, enabling the utility to remove a regulator station next to Dixie Donuts that sits in a floodway. He said the additional capacity is intended to secure service on the coldest days of the year and to support development projects such as the Ockham Industrial Center and the Preston Riverwalk (though no specific gas contracts for those developments were presented at the meeting).

On rates, LaRose said the capacity associated with this project is likely more expensive than some of NPU\u0000s legacy contracts but that remarketing and future marketing contracts could mitigate impacts; he described the impact on rates as expected to be minimal and said upgrades to the local gate station through 2029 would not affect customers until the project is in service. He noted some components of the contract and supporting documents were redacted at the request of the pipeline company for competitive reasons.

The council voted 7-0 to adopt the ordinance. The motion to bring the ordinance to the floor came from Alderman Gold, seconded by Alderman Singh; the roll-call vote in favor was Nash, Hayes, Betancourt, Gould, Singh, DeLucia and Nystrom.

LaRose said the subscription was chosen to meet cold-day capacity needs and to allow the utility to reassign the regulator station located in a floodway; he also said NPU has five gate stations off the Algonquin system and limited interstate pipeline access in Connecticut (Algonquin and Iroquois).","By unanimous vote the council authorized Norwich Public Utilities to pursue additional pipeline capacity through the Project RARE expansion and enter agreements with Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC; NPU said the subscription is roughly 1,000 decatherms per day (about 7% of peak capacity day) with an in-service date of Nov. 1, 2029.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6463875,"Norwich council authorizes $150 million in electric revenue bonds to fund utility upgrades",1672,1727000,3399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189&start=1727&end=3399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784856-f57954c899ebf72cd55083e7c37ef189/thumbnail_1727000.jpg","/articles/6463875/Norwich/New-London-County/Connecticut/Norwich-council-authorizes-150-million-in-electric-revenue-bonds-to-fund-utility-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463875-160692c04795b1e5b5752234dae9657d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775014934&Signature=c1piqSs7i9LNmLNq-Z8J4A2r-yIiRQ7ppFVBZfUwxJXnhBY~KQFOulcwbc6Y-pbjJVs7-EX-qvAlTPyBwg82T5CXgP-4-KSWXSN8JK6lmy7DAY~odZ9m4C5AM~bP~4sb0O3gdvdVhtCNFIR-8i6YBYO6gXOOfq9WNrSUVEOFCz9V1zDCTr0cKfE7LLnKJ5q~Rylr6Bzt0D69jyyuYAzh06plM8TbM-Ut3I3XvOWcuru4JmU9py-JqBLol45Z1ZnWnzXPdCZ-eYJo0cZHmjPYMh-8FiH0b-gDAMHa-IWywtAxq3ZcRPAu57aT-uHsthiV6l6~9hvRJwel2nGOLCmMOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Norwich City Council voted 7-0 on Sept. 15 to adopt an ordinance authorizing Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) to issue up to $150 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds, to be repaid solely from electric revenue, to fund a package of electric infrastructure projects.

NPU General Manager Chris LaRose said the borrowing will allow the utility to phase large capital projects over time rather than rely on annual capital budgets, reducing short-term rate volatility. “Paying for important projects over time rather than through annual expenditures from our capital budgets will significantly reduce the short term impact on rates and reduce rate volatility,” LaRose said.

The bond program is intended to finance multiple upgrades, LaRose said, including relocating the Bean Hill substation out of the Yantic River floodway, repairs and upgrades to the Tenth Street and Dudley substations and their transmission feeds, replacing older distribution lines (from 4.8 kV to a 13.8 kV system where needed), a 34.5 kV sub-transmission “ring” to connect substations for improved backfeed capability, and targeted upgrades to maintenance and hydroelectric facilities. LaRose added that any expenditures from these bonds would require approval by the NPU board as well as applicable city, state and federal agencies.

Council members pressed NPU staff on future rate impacts. “We\u0000re not getting something for nothing here. It will likely result in some kind of rate increases down the road,” Alderman Betancourt said. LaRose agreed that financing will have a cost but described several mechanisms that can mitigate long-term impacts: spreading major projects over 30 years, potential ISO New England cost recovery for certain substation work, remarketing unused capacity and growth in load from electrification. He estimated a 10-year, accelerated approach could have produced roughly a 3% annual increase for 10 years in a worst-case scenario, but said the utility\u0000s plan is to pace projects so the impact on customer bills is minimized.

Councilors also discussed flood vulnerability: NPU staff said the Bean Hill substation was within six inches of flooding during the January storm and options to raise or dike the existing site were infeasible; relocation to higher ground was presented as the preferred solution. LaRose said the 34.5 kV sub-transmission connection would enable faster, more automated backfeeding between substations to limit outage size and duration.

The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote of 7-0. Council members earlier moved to bring the ordinance to the floor (motion by Alderman Gould; second by President Pro Tem DeLucia). The council recorded the final vote as Yes: Nash, Hayes, Betancourt, Gould, Singh, DeLucia, Nystrom.

The ordinance authorizes the city and NPU to issue revenue bonds and to apply for grants to finance any portion of the appropriation; the ordinance text specifies the bonds would be secured solely by electric revenue and that city- and agency-level approvals will be required before expenditures are made.

Members of the public and councilors who asked questions during the public hearing included residents and several aldermen; no public speaker opposed the bond ordinance during the hearing. NPU staff and bond counsel remained available to answer follow-up questions as the projects move through permitting and design.

Looking ahead, LaRose and staff said major steps such as permitting, design and long lead-time procurement (transformer lead times were described as roughly two years) mean construction for the largest items would be phased and could take many years to complete.","The Norwich City Council unanimously approved an ordinance allowing Norwich Public Utilities to issue $150 million in revenue bonds, secured solely by electric revenues, to finance substations, transmission upgrades and other electric infrastructure improvements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Norwich council approves seven resolutions including three property sales

Norwich council approves purchase of additional natural-gas capacity tied to Algonquin expansion

Norwich council authorizes $150 million in electric revenue bonds to fund utility upgrades