Editor's note: this version clarifies the members of the city's commission and the council's subcommittee.

New London — Proposals for use of the Lighthouse Inn property have drawn the interest of the city's Economic Development Commission even as would-be developers continue to revise and clarify their plans.

Five interested parties are vying for the status of preferred developer, a designation that could be assigned by the City Council based on information being gathered by the city's Office of Development and Planning.

Developer and Economic Development Commission member Frank McLaughlin said the commission recently voted in favor of taking "an open, public, independent and active role in evaluating, in tandem with the city, the future of the Lighthouse Inn property."

Members of the Economic Development Committee — a subcommittee of the City Council — currently reviewing the plans, did not directly respond to McLaughlin's request for the commission to be part of the evaluation process at Monday's meeting. 

The Economic Development Commission, a separate city board from the council's subcommittee, is composed of McLaughlin, Deborah Donovan, Able Donka, Linda Mariani, Anna Perch, Vice Chairman George Sprecace and Chairwoman Elaine Stattler.

The council's subcommittee is made up of councilors Michael Passero, Efrain Dominguez and Martin Olsen.

Following Monday's meeting, one of those interested in developing the property distanced himself from John Voloshin, a developer sent to federal prison for financial crimes in 2012.

Voloshin was listed by the city’s Office of Development and Planning as a consultant for would-be developer Roger Bennett.

Bennett, a certified public accountant, submitted a proposal to the city outlining a planned $3 million investment to restore the historic Lighthouse Inn off Guthrie Place and operate it as a traditional inn and venue for weddings and special events.

He has offered the city $350,000 for the property.

Bennett said Tuesday that several people had suggested meeting with Voloshin because of real estate dealing in and around New London and familiarity with the Lighthouse Inn.

Bennett said Voloshin, however, is not a partner in his proposal and not technically a consultant, since he never paid Voloshin.

“I met him. He told me what he knew. He told me anything I wanted to know, that I was free to call him,” Bennett said.

Bennett said Voloshin offered his knowledge, was friendly and even delivered his proposal to the city on the day it was due.

He said he didn’t expect Voloshin’s past criminal conviction would be relevant to any discussion by the City Council, which ultimately will decide on the proposals.

Voloshin, in a phone conversation Tuesday, reiterated what Bennett said.

Bennett was the first of the developers to come before the City Council, which met on Monday and already is considering dropping a proposal by Timothy A. Londregan. Londregan had proposed demolishing the buildings on the 4.2-acre site in favor of a complete rebuild.

Council Chairman Wade Hyslop said Monday he’d be willing to drop a second proposal from the list but declined to name which one. The Council’s Economic Development Committee plans to hold a meeting in September to hear from all of the developers.

While the Office of Development and Planning continues its work to find out more information about the developers and their financial backers, members of the Economic Development Commission — as distinct from the committee — are looking for a chance to evaluate the proposals.

“The economic development commission feels strongly they should participate in the review and approval of the selection, or not, of a developer for the Lighthouse Inn property," McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin, at Monday’s meeting, asked that the council not rush to judgment.

“We do not have to accept any of these proposals,” he said. “Often the best decision we make is to not make a deal. Consider this a learning process that can be fine-tuned possibly for the next go around, if needed. Remember we will be doing something that you, not me, will have to live with for the next 50 years.”

McLaughlin said the commission is seeking not only a seat at the table to review the Lighthouse Inn proposal but also wants to play a larger role in using their expertise to review other proposals for the city.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay