Public hearing to be held on Kentucky Derby trip complaints
Norwich — The Ethics Commission will hold a public hearing Jan. 19 on six complaints against five city officials who participated in a lavish trip to the Kentucky Derby hosted by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative in May.
The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in room 335 at City Hall and is open to the public.
The commission has found probable cause to investigate two ethics complaints filed against Mayor Deberey Hinchey and one complaint each against Norwich Public Utilities General Manager John Bilda, NPU Division Manager Steve Sinko, Board of Public Utilities Commission Chairman Dee Boisclair and Vice Chairman Robert Groner.
All five attended the four-day trip that cost CMEEC $342,330 for 44 participants in May. CMEEC has hosted derby trips in each of the past four years.
The complaints, five from city residents and one submitted by the Ethics Commission itself, allege the city officials violated the city code of ethics prohibition on gifts valued at more than $50 and violated conflict-of-interest provisions.
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