Preston – Several residents gave Connecticut Light & Power a failing grade on the company’s response to the town’s widespread power outage following Monday's superstorm.

“It’s partly CL&P saying 'to hell with Preston,'" Route 164 resident John Gamble said.

Gamble recommended to the Board of Selectmen tonight that Preston start negotiations with Norwich Public Utilities to have the Norwich-owned utility expand its franchise into Preston.

Selectman Timothy Bowles said he recommended the same to First Selectman Robert Congdon earlier this week.

During a storm update at tonight’s meeting, Congdon said he had asked that mutual aid crews from NPU work in Preston to make restoration work go quicker. NPU sent three crews to CL&P for mutual aid today, but the crews must be dispatched through CL&P’s system.

Congdon said two line crews and two tree-cutting crews have been working in Preston, but only to secure downed lines and cut trees, not to restore power yet. CL&P is reporting that 68 percent of the town remains without power.

He said among the areas of concern in town is the Lincoln Park senior housing complex. CL&P has agreed to bring generators to the facility tonight for residents there.

c.bessette@theday.com