New London — A measure to fund a new police contract failed by a 3-3 vote Monday after city councilors disagreed about how to pay for the contract.

A vote in favor would have transferred $425,000 from a so-called contingency account, which was actually an account created by the Council to fund new positions, including three police officers and a detective. The Council has committed to boosting the ranks of the department to 80 officers but so far has managed to barely keep pace with vacancies.

The Council approved the new police contract on Oct. 6 but did not budget any money for increases connected to the contract.

Councilor Erica Richardson argued that not funding the contract is sending a bad message to officers who just several years ago started leaving because of low morale connected to fears of layoffs.

"They wanted some security," she said. "Once again we are giving them an excuse to jump ship. It's one thing to say we want to get up to 80 officers. But if you're not supporting the officers you do have now, what good is trying to get to 80?"

Councilors Michael Passero and Martin Olsen both voiced frustration over the lack of financial information and the contingency fund being pushed as the only option,

Passero said the city administration "has completely thrown up a stone wall," and refused to provide information about any unspent money from anywhere else in the budget. He reiterated that he was unwilling to sacrifice an increase in police staffing without knowing if money was available elsewhere.

"I need information to act," Passero said.

Olsen agreed.

"We're only as good as the information that we're given," Olsen said. "Without any, it's very, very challenging to make prudent decisions. "

Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio, prior to the vote by the Council, reiterated the urgency in funding the contract and said he was starting to suspect "political motivation."

"I would not have signed the contract...if I didn't think we were going to pay for it," Finizio said.

He also reminded those in attendance critical of the use of contingency funds that the name of the account was misleading.

"This is not, not, not, a general contingency fund," Finizio said. "This is not a city reserve this is not a contingency fund for emergencies."

He also said he thought it would be irresponsible to pull money from a different department.

It remains unclear how the contract will be funded but all councilors agreed it would eventually come from the general budget before the end of the fiscal year.

Passero, Olsen and Michael Trachida voted against the transfer. Richardson, Wade Hyslop and Efrain Dominguez Jr. voted in favor. Councilor Anthony Nolan, a police officer, recused himself from the vote.

g.smith@theday.com

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