Norwich — The projected schedule for completion of an investigation into the actions of top staff at the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative that led to federal corruption charges was pushed back to end of March on Thursday.

The special committee investigating the actions of CMEEC CEO Drew Rankin and former Chief Financial Officer Edward Pryor met for nearly two hours behind closed doors Thursday with investigating attorney Eileen Duggan. Afterward, the committee voted unanimously to ask the full board of directors to include an executive session at its regular March 28 meeting to hear an update from the committee.

Prior to the start of that meeting, to be held at the Holiday Inn in Norwich, the committee will meet in executive session to discuss the investigation.

Rankin and Pryor were among five CMEEC officials indicted Nov. 8 on federal corruption charges in connection with CMEEC’s hosting of trips to the Kentucky Derby and to a West Virginia golf resort.

Rankin has been on unpaid administrative leave since Nov. 9. Pryor was placed on unpaid leave the same day but retired as of Jan. 1.