Ledyard — Since at least 2009, various committees have floated the idea of replacing the town's resident trooper system with an independent police force.

On Wednesday, that idea seemed closer to reality as members of the Administration Committee discussed tweaks they'd like to make to a 2009 draft ordinance that would create an independent police department.

"We are moving deliberately toward it," Mayor John Rodolico confirmed just after the Wednesday meeting. "We've been studying it for a long time, but there are still some unknowns."

Some members, such as longtime Councilor and former Mayor Mary McGrattan, wondered whether it was necessary to include the existing limit of 23 "constables" in the new ordinance.

She said it may result in a "tying of hands" for the police chief who ultimately takes over.

But, Rodolico explained, the town's charter instructs the police chief or mayor to refer to the number set by the ordinance.

A perk of that, he said, is that a change in the ordinance requires a public hearing — a future police chief wouldn't be able to arbitrarily hire anyone.

Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher said the ordinance regarding the number of officers the town can have has been changed six times since 1984.

McGrattan also took issue with the word "constable," which she called an insulting throwback.

Rodolico, who said he didn't change the term in the existing resident trooper contract because he's "hoping it's only in effect for a short time," agreed.

Councilor Stephen Eichelberg, chairman of the Administration Committee, said he would like to see a police oversight commission for at least the first five to seven years of the department's existence.

The proposal raised a host of new questions: What would the commission's duties be? How many people would sit on it and what qualifications would they need? What existing body would appoint those people?

Ultimately, the committee deferred action on the ordinance, citing a need to do more research.

Rodolico said he'd reach out to municipalities such as Redding, Plainfield, Norwich and Stonington, all of which have their own police departments.

"This is uncharted territory for us," McGrattan said.

Ledyard is one of multiple area towns considering an independent force in part because of an increase in the cost of resident troopers written into the current year's state budget.

Instead of 70 percent of the troopers' salaries, municipalities now have to bear 85 percent of the salaries of their first two troopers and 100 percent of any beyond that.

In Ledyard, that moved the budgeted amount for its lone resident state trooper from $146,000 to $190,000.

Rodolico has noted in the past that the town's new police facility, currently under construction, would be able to accommodate an independent force.

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle