Norwich – The newly elected City Council likely will hear a presentation on the controversial Chelsea Gardens botanical gardens project early in its new term, but a date for the workshop hasn't been set.

The workshop was scheduled and rescheduled twice Monday and finally postponed. The session originally was planned for next Monday, the eve of the election, but Mayor Deberey Hinchey postponed it to have a light agenda for candidates.

City Clerk Betsy Barrett postponed a December date, leaving it to the new council to schedule the workshop.

The Chelsea Gardens Foundation gave an invitation-only tour for city leaders and council candidates of the project site leased from the city in Mohegan Park on Saturday. Only two candidates, Republican and former Mayor Peter Nystrom and Democrat and former Alderman H. Tucker Braddock, attended the tour.

On Monday, Democratic council candidate Elanah Sherman issued a press release criticizing the foundation for contacting police prior to the tour. Sherman said police were called after “meritless” allegations against a project opponent.

“This action, an embarrassment to the city, shows what people almost entirely unused to public examination will do to protect a vanity project for which they never sought, nor received, broad public support,” Sherman's press release stated. “It also illustrates, in full public view, Norwich cronyism at work.”

Foundation President Hugh Schnip could not be reached for comment Monday. On Saturday, he said he called police after a brief confrontation with a project opponent prior to the tour. Foundation members also said board secretary Laurie Eng had dropped off a pop-up tent at the entrance, but it was gone when she returned moments later after parking her car.

Two Norwich police officers stayed during the tour.

Sherman said she has opposed the botanical garden project for nearly 10 years, saying it is indicative of Norwich "cronyism." Project opponent David Caruso is a member of Sherman's campaign committee.

The project saw little opposition during for 20 years. Opponents, led by abutting neighbor Charles Evans, have objected since this past spring, when the foundation cut six acres of trees at the project center. Opponents argue that no trees should have been cut, because the foundation does not have the $20 million needed to build the first phase. Evans has filed suit in New London Superior Court challenging the project.

Schnip said Saturday the area had to be cut to show interested donors the proposed layout and how natural features would be incorporated into the plans.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday