Norwich — Mayor Deberey Hinchey said Wednesday she has no intention of paying more than the 25 percent of the estimated value of her Kentucky Derby trip as recommended by the Ethics Commission, despite a City Council resolution passed Monday calling for all five Norwich trip participants to repay the entire estimated cost for themselves and their guests.

“I complied with the Ethics Commission, and I paid what they asked and I feel that was the process our city set up to invest and make judgments about ethics violations,” Hinchey said. “And so I did what I think was right and I complied with what they did recommend.”

Hinchey, Norwich Public Utilities General Manager John Bilda, NPU Division Manager Steve Sinko and utilities commission Chairwoman Dee Boisclair and Vice Chairman Robert Groner attended the controversial Kentucky Derby trip, hosted by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative.

The Ethics Commission ruled Feb. 13 that all five violated the city ethics code that limits gifts to $50. The commission recommended that Hinchey pay the 25 percent amount for herself and that utilities commission Chairwoman Dee Boisclair and Vice Chairman Robert Groner pay back 25 percent of the estimated value of the trips for themselves and their spouses, $3,877.62 each. The commission used the 25 percent level because Norwich owns about 25 percent of CMEEC. Only Bilda and Sinko were asked to pay the full value, $15,510, for themselves and their spouses.

Council President Pro Tempore Peter Nystrom said the council is not done with the Kentucky Derby controversy. He intends to introduce a resolution at the April 15 council meeting to launch a council investigation into the controversy, especially centering on the utilities commission members. Aldermen said they were upset that the utilities commission last week voted to reappoint both Boisclair and Groner to their leadership positions.

The council has authority in the city charter to investigate “the official conduct of any department or agency of the city government or of any officer or employee thereof,” including issuing subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify. Responding to complaints they've received from residents, Nystrom and other aldermen said Monday they delayed taking action to wait until the Ethics Commission process was done before taking up the controversy.

Alderman William Nash said he thinks Bilda should be fired over the controversy. Bilda has attended the CMEEC-hosted Kentucky Derby trips for the past four years.

Hinchey recused herself and left the room Monday night when the council debated the Kentucky Derby controversy. The council approved the reimbursement resolution 5-1 with Alderman H. Tucker Braddock voting against. During the discussion, Braddock questioned the council's enforcement authority for the resolution, especially given that the mayor already had paid the $1,945 recommended by the Ethics Commission. Braddock also questioned where any reimbursed money should be deposited, saying “it's not really our money.”

Hinchey's check was deposited into the city's general fund “for safe keeping,” City Manager John Salomone said, while awaiting council decisions on where the money should go. The Ethics Commission recommended it be placed into a fund to help “struggling families,” a proposal Nash supported so the money would have a greater impact than the “2 cents” it might reduce his bill.

Hinchey said Wednesday the city Ethics Commission rather than the City Council should handle the issues as intended in the ordinance to keep them out of the political arena.

“That's where I think this should be, on a separate committee, not on the City Council where people are running for office,” Hinchey said.

Hinchey's resolve not to increase her reimbursement will test the council's authority to order any reimbursements. Bilda said Wednesday he will not make any reimbursement until “all this is complete,” referring to the city ethics investigation.

Bilda declined to comment on Nash's call for his termination and Nystrom's comments two weeks ago that Bilda should resign over the controversy.

“I have an employee contract with the utilities commission, and those are the folks I report to,” Bilda said. “I continue to show up here every day and lead NPU the way it has always been done, delivering life’s essential services.”

The Ethics Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday on three complaints filed against Bilda, Sinko and Groner for their participation in another CMEEC hosted retreat to the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia in October 2015.

Bilda questioned whether the City Council has any authority to order any punitive action for what the four NPU officials have argued was a CMEEC board function, not a city of Norwich event. He said he would consult with the NPU attorney on whether the council has authority in the CMEEC issues. All four NPU officials are CMEEC board members, while Hinchey attended as Bilda's guest.

c.bessette@theday.com