Norwich - About 20 parishioners of St. Joseph Polish Roman Catholic Church and neighbors of the controversial new location for St. Vincent de Paul Place soup kitchen attended the opening of a special joint City Council and planning commission meeting Tuesday night.

But the first action of the night closed the meeting to the public, as the City Council and Commission on the City Plan moved to an adjacent room to discuss three pending federal lawsuits challenging city zoning permit denials for the soup kitchen move to the former St. Joseph School at 120 Cliff St.

Residents and parishioners did not stay for the 90-minute executive session, but while departing, several attendees expressed concern that city officials might not vigorously defend the decisions by the Commission on the City Plan and the Zoning Board of Appeals that denied permanent permits for the soup kitchen operation in the residential zone.

"It's a very, very tough budget year," said Hobart Avenue resident Brian Kobylarz, who has been a leading spokesman for residents. "It could set a bad precedent if they do not defend the decisions of the city zoning boards."

City Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll is not representing the city in the case, because of a conflict of interest. Zoning attorney Michael Zizka is representing the city and participated in Tuesday's closed-door meeting. City Planning Director Peter Davis also attended the session.

St. Vincent moved to the former school a year ago this week with a six-month temporary permit from the city and the state building official's office. The move came as the facility's former home at the former city train station behind Main Street was closed for structural repairs.

In December, however, the Diocese of Norwich, which operates the soup kitchen, sought a special permit from the planning commission to permanently relocate to the former St. Joseph School. After two contentious public hearings, the planning commission denied the permit.

St. Vincent appealed to federal court in Bridgeport, but a judge there dismissed the case, saying the facility had not exhausted all city permitting avenues. St. Vincent appealed the dismissal to the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, where the case is pending.

In April, St. Vincent also appealed to federal court the notice of violation issued by Zoning Enforcement Officer Tianne Curtis once the special permit was denied.

At the same time, St. Vincent sought a zoning variance from the ZBA. That city agency denied the permit in May, and St. Vincent appealed that decision also to federal court in Bridgeport.

The soup kitchen remains open during the appeals, because the city agreed in the first lawsuit to delay zoning enforcement until the case was resolved.

Neighbors and parishioners Tuesday expressed frustration at the lengthy proceedings and the rising costs on both sides. Parishioner Lucia Leise said the diocese would have been better off investing money spent on the appeal into finding a new location for the soup kitchen. The diocese attorneys are representing the diocese pro bono, but residents said there are other appeal costs.

Parishioner Dennis O'Brien and others said he believes the city should play a more active role in finding an agreeable new location for the soup kitchen, with private donations and the diocese still running the operation. O'Brien said the entire city should bear responsibility for caring for impoverished and homeless Norwich residents.

The council and planning commission took no action following the closed-door meeting. After the meeting, Mayor Peter Nystrom said the city is not dropping its defense of the appealed zoning decisions.

"The city has an attorney, who is representing the city, and the case is continuing," Nystrom said.

c.bessette@theday.com