Norwich ― The city Ethics Commission decided Monday that Alderman Swaranjit Singh Khalsa did not have a conflict of interest when he voted Sept. 6 on aspects of the state’s controversial proposed reconstruction of Route 82-West Main Street.

Singh had requested an advisory opinion on the matter from the Ethics Commission.

Singh was one of four council Democrats who voted in favor of accepting city maintenance responsibility for future sidewalks, the centers of the proposed roundabouts and acceptance of a proposed new public street in the project. The two resolutions were approved 4-3 with the council’s four Democrats in favor and its three Republicans _ Mayor Peter Nystrom, Alderwoman Stacy Gould and Alderman Grant Neuendorf in opposition.

The state Department of Transportation project calls for acquiring five properties along West Main Street, including a Shell gas station at the West Main-Dunham Street intersection. Khalsa owns the Norwichtown Shell gas station at 168 W. Town St., 4.2 miles from the West Main Street station, which he does not own.

Khalsa asked for the advisory opinion from the city Ethics Commission after he received a letter Sept. 7 from the three council Republicans saying his vote gave “the appearance of impropriety,” since the closing of one gas station could send more business to his station.

In his letter to the Ethics Commission asking for the advisory opinion, Khalsa wrote that he felt the council Republicans’ letter was “part of a politically motivated move to delay the work on Route 82.”

At the Sept. 19 City Council meeting, Khalsa asked that the Sept. 6 vote be reconsidered at the council’s Nov. 21 meeting, to give the Ethics Commission time to issue its advisory opinion.

In his request to the Ethics Commission, Khalsa told the commission he saw no conflict of interest in his Sept. 6 vote. The resolution did not address the DOT’s proposed property acquisition and only dealt with the city maintenance of the public portions of the project. The resolution allowed the DOT to continue the design phase.

Khalsa also told the commission in his letter that Norwich has 16 gas stations, and there are six stations between the West Main Street station slated to be acquired and his station across town. He told the commission the nearest Shell station is in Uncasville in the opposite direction.

The four members of the commission who attended Monday’s special meeting all agreed that Khalsa had no conflict of interest Sept. 6, because the resolutions did not pertain to the potential acquisition or closure of the gas station.

But in its written opinion to come, the commission will advise all city officials “out of an abundance of caution” to recuse themselves in any votes that involve any city or state eminent domain acquisition of properties in situations where they have financial interest in a competing business.

Khalsa did not attend Monday’s Ethics Commission meeting, as he was attending the council Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee held prior to Monday’s City Council meeting.

Khalsa said he was grateful to the commission for taking up the issue in time for the pending reconsideration on Nov. 21.

“I’m glad they are clarifying things,” Khalsa said. “… That’s better. A lot of times, people just want to make a big deal out of it. Even though I personally knew there was no conflict of interest, it is important to keep in mind other opinions.”

c.bessette@theday.com