Groton — Groton City Councilors have proposed a resolution that would explore ways for the city to become financially independent from the town, including secession.

"I personally favor secession from the town because they definitely treat us like we're an orphan child," City Councilor Lawrence Gerrish told his colleagues earlier this week. He said the town council doesn't give equal treatment to city councilors who address it.

"I always get the impression when I'm there that they're looking down on me, like I'm less than they are," he said.

On April 11, town councilors cut the city's funding request for roads by nearly half, reigniting a battle that has gone on for years. The city had asked for $1.92 million for road maintenance in the coming fiscal year, and the town council cut $830,000.

Mayor Marian Galbraith said Thursday the city would seek arbitration to settle the dispute.

But she said that wouldn't help in the coming fiscal year, because the city still has to run its department. To absorb the cut, it would have to lay off eight of the 11 employees who work on roads, she said.

Shirleyann Dunbar-Rose of Baker Avenue told the city council Monday that being part of Groton town felt "like a bad marriage."

"We've been in counseling too long. Maybe it's time to pack our bags, leave the town. We have the most to offer and the most to take away," she said.

The city has plenty to offer, more than pulls its weight and yet is not appreciated or treated well, she said. The city owns the utilities department, attracted Pfizer Inc. and Electric Boat, has the benefit of the Thames River and pays 31 percent of taxes the town collects, or $26 million.

"Does the town realize how lucky it is to have the city as a subdivision?" she said.

Town councilors also cut the city's police budget request by $74,500.

Mayor Galbraith had proposed a budget of $16.57 million for the coming fiscal year, a slight decrease from the current budget of about $16.59 million. Despite the cut in spending, the budget would require a tax increase of 0.34 mills, resulting in a tax rate of 5.162.

The city saw revenues fall in several areas, Galbraith said. The grand list dropped 7.5 percent and interest income was expected to decline. Health care and pension costs rose, she said.

Her proposed budget would reduce trash pickup to once a week, with an accompanying reduction in staff. Bond money that had been intended to renovate Colonel Ledyard School would be spent on other improvements, she said. The city would begin charging residents for bulky waste pickup and would review all other fees for possible increases in the coming year, she said.

On Thursday, the finance committee for the Representative Town Meeting voted to recommend restoring the town council cut to city police. The committee also supported placing $830,000 — the amount cut from highways — into a separate line item until arbitration is resolved.

But that won't help now, Galbraith said. The last time the city challenged the town in arbitration it waited until June to see the money.

She said the council would have to ask taxpayers to pay an additional increase of 0.698 mills to cover the cost.

"That's the part I think is really reprehensible," Galbraith said.

Deputy Mayor William E. Jervis and City Councilors Gerrish, Stephen Sheffield, Andrew Ilvento and Keith Hedrick told the mayor on Monday they want to seek legal advice and obtain advice from a consultant about the options for obtaining financial independence from the town.

"I want something permanent. In writing," Ilvento said.

Hedrick said the city is beyond discussions with the town. "It appears that we cannot be in the same room and have a civil discussion over things like this," he said.

There was a committee in Groton City years ago called "Project 170", which looked into becoming the 170th municipality in Connecticut. But the committee did not have a consultant at the time, Galbraith said.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim