Norwich — Mayor Deberey Hinchey and four Norwich Public Utilities officials involved in ethics complaints over their participation in a lavish trip to the Kentucky Derby in May said they were sorry the trips caused such a public outcry and in hindsight agreed the trips were a “bad idea” and “won't happen again.”

The Ethics Commission held a two-hour public hearing Thursday in a packed former courtroom at City Hall with about 100 people in attendance. The commission is investigating six complaints, two filed against Mayor Hinchey, and one each against NPU General Manager John Bilda, NPU Division Manager Steve Sinko and utilities commission Chairman Dee Boisclair and Vice Chairman Robert Groner. Five complaints were filed by two city residents, and the commission added a sixth complaint on its own.

All five attended the May Kentucky Derby trip hosted by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative, which paid $342,330 for the trip for 44 participants. CMEEC has hosted Derby trips in each of the past four years. The four NPU officials brought their spouses on the trip as well, while Hinchey did not.

"I apologize to the citizens of Norwich for my participation," Hinchey said during the hearing. "... It has brought a negative connotation to this city, and being a part of that, I deeply regret."

Through her attorney, Jeffrey Londregan, Hinchey declined to answer specific questions about the trip and its finances, citing an ongoing FBI investigation into CMEEC and its member municipal utilities. FBI investigators have requested information from member utilities, CMEEC and the city of Norwich, officials confirmed in fall. The FBI has declined to comment on whether there is an investigation into the trip.

Hinchey said she understands the public outcry, given the high expenses of the trip and that many Norwich residents are struggling financially.

Commission Chairwoman Carol Menard said at the close of the hearing that the commission would read the written testimony and consider Thursday's testimony at an upcoming regular meeting before voting on whether the Derby trips constituted ethics violations. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Feb. 13.

In their separate statements, the NPU officials each said they felt the trip was beneficial for them as CMEEC board members in getting to know fellow board members from other utilities and the CMEEC staff. Bilda said the trip was part of a change in business climate at CMEEC that greatly improved cooperation among member utilities and CMEEC's financial output.

Attorney Paul McCary, who represented all four NPU officials, argued that the trip could not be considered a gift under the city's ethics code because it was a CMEEC board function rather than a city function. His clients all are CMEEC board members and were expected to participate in board functions.

While agreeing the trip was “lavish,” McCary said there is no such word in the city's ethics code.

All four NPU officials also agreed that the trips “in hindsight” were lavish and excessive. Bilda repeatedly said “I'm sorry” for the black eye the trips have given to NPU and its employees. Bilda and Sinko have attended the trips all four years.

“I guess maybe it was a bad idea,” Bilda said, “but it wasn't my idea.”

When a last-minute slot on the trip became open, Bilda did suggest to CMEEC Executive Director Drew Rankin, who organized the trips, that Hinchey be invited. Bilda gave the ticket to Hinchey at his Norwich home.

Hinchey told the Ethics Commission she had no voting or oversight authority over NPU, CMEEC or their employees, and said she felt she was invited to attend the trip by Bilda “as a friend” rather than as mayor. She said she was assured by Bilda that no Norwich taxpayer money was used to fund the trip. Hinchey said she apologized to city staff and City Manager John Salomone and regretted the negative publicity the trip caused.

Londregan said since the mayor has no authority or control over CMEEC, and that NPU is a part owner of the utility cooperative, the trip could not be viewed as a gift by a city vendor or outside party to the mayor. Londregan conceded about the lavish nature of the event, and repeated Hinchey's regret for having attended.

At the start of the hearing, McCary objected to several aspects of the Ethics Commission's procedures. He said the commission held Thursday's hearing well after the 60 days allowed in the ordinance from the date a complaint is filed.

He complained that the commission erred in filing its own complaint against Sinko, saying commission Chairwoman Menard should have recused herself in the deliberations, since she signed the complaint. He also said three members of the commission should have signed the complaint, while only Menard did.

McCary added that the entire commission has prejudged all the complaints because its members voted in favor of investigating the commission-generated complaint against Sinko. Hinchey's attorney Londregan agreed with all of McCary's opening arguments.

c.bessette@theday.com