Groton City Councilors Vote To Hire Consultant To Study Possible Secession

By GLADYS ALCEDO
Day Staff Writer, Groton
Published on 2/8/2005

Groton–– City Councilors unanimously agreed Monday to hire a longtime Hartford County municipal manager as a consultant to the committee studying the city's possible separation from the town.

Councilors authorized Mayor Dennis L. Popp to contract with Management Resources of Windsor to provide consulting services to the council-appointed Independence Advisory Committee. The committee was formed in June to study the feasibility of the city breaking away from Groton town to become the 170th municipality in the state.

Councilors capped the consultant's contract at $10,000, which will come from the city's contingency account.

The city, a political subdivision of the town, began to consider secession last year after some residents complained to city officials that the town was neglecting the city's needs. Other committees studied city secession in 1961 and 1988.

“This is what we need to keep the committee going,” Popp said, adding that Albert G. Ilg and his company could provide guidance on what the advisory committee should look for as it pursues its charge.

Popp said the city would be able to tap the expertise of an experienced municipal official who has put together annual budgets for 35 years. Popp said he heard of Ilg from New London City Manager Richard Brown.

Ilg served as interim city manager of Hartford from 2001 to 2002 and as town manager of Windsor from 1966 through 1998, when he retired. In 1999-2000, he helped Waterford and its school district prepare a 10-year operations and financial management plan in anticipation of declining tax revenues in connection with the sale of the Millstone nuclear power complex.

“It looks like he's well qualified,” Councilor H. Fritz Poppe said.

Groton City Police Chief Bruno L. Giulini, who once worked in South Windsor, said he knew of Ilg's favorable reputation in that region.

According to the council's resolution, Management Resources “will examine the information and the strategy which has been developed to make the city of Groton's evidence for (secession) indisputable” and to help the city prepare to win approval from the General Assembly.

Secession also would have to be approved by city residents.