Ledyard - The Town Council avoided taking action Wednesday on the controversial Administrators Association contract approved by the Board of Education, tabling discussion until the council's Jan. 28 meeting.

The latest version of the contract, with changes to clear up some language, was approved by the school board on Jan. 7.

Council Chairman Linda Davis and other councilors were critical of the school board's handling of administration negotiations when the two boards met in December. At that meeting, Davis delayed action on the contract in part because she felt the council did not have enough information.

She gave the same reason not taking action Wednesday, saying Board of Education representatives and Superintendent Cathy Patterson were unable to answer all the council's question during a 50-minute executive session.

The town council has until Feb. 6 to approve or reject the contract, which provides school administrators with a 2.5 percent annual raise and includes changes to health care benefits. It would also begin providing longevity stipends to administrators after seven years with the town, rather than beginning at 25 years of employment, as the district does currently.

If the council does not approve the contract, it will need to enter into arbitration with the Ledyard Administrators Association.

During the public comment period of Wednesday's Town Council meeting, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Mike Cherry said he was "a little incredulous" that the contract would provide 2.5 percent raises annually to the highest-paid members of the school system.

School officials have defended the raises as keeping Ledyard administrators' salaries in line with demographically similar towns. On Wednesday, board member Stephanie Calhoun noted that administrator raises over the past three years

 have been 0 percent, 1.9 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively.

k.catalfamo@theday.com

Twitter: @kccatalfamo