Councilors Butt Heads Over Anti-Violence Proposals

Two city councilors, who have also announced their candidacy for mayor of New London, exchanged words Monday evening as discussions over a ultimately sent them to a committee.

The council voted 6-1 to send the proposals to the Public Safety Committee. Councilor Michael Buscetto III, who chairs the committee and also brought the suggestions to the council, was the dissenting vote. Buscetto has also been chairing the Safe City Commission—made up of people from the city’s schools, police department, and other areas—which met biweekly from January through last week to discuss ways of improving safety and youth opportunities in the city.

“I think this is a pretty comprehensive program that we need to move forward with,” Buscetto said.

The Safe City Commission took written votes on 10 different ideas:

• The establishment of an enforceable, flexible curfew pending review by the city’s law director (passed 17-3).
• The establishment of a youth intervention center to provide a safe place for teens picked up by police during the evening (passed 18-2)
• A police-community engagement effort to improve youth perception of police officers (passed 16-4)
• An examination of the New London Public Schools’ zero tolerance policy to see if it is more harmful than helpful (passed 19-1)
• An effort to improve the perception of the city, including publicizing good news; hiring a part-time intern for communication between the city and residents; and an Out of School Time director, potentially working under the Office of Youth Affairs, as a liaison between youth organizations and the city government (passed 19-1).
• Surveillance cameras and lighting in high crime areas (passed 19-1).
• Approaching SEAT with the possibility of changing bus routes to accommodate youth and offering free or reduced fares for youth with identification (passed 17-3).
• Support of successful youth programs, with $25,000 in municipal support for the , Writers Block Ink, Camp Rotary, and new programming as well as $10,000 for “safe walk ambassadors,” or nighttime crossing guards to serve as a crime deterrent (passed 18-2).
• Support of job training for at-risk youth, including $24,000 in city funds to serve 20 students (passed 20-0).
• Cooperation with the Boys and Girls Club (passed 20-0).

Buscetto said the commission had acted as a subcommittee of the Public Safety Committee, but Councilor Wade Hyslop said he was concerned over whether it was proper procedure to introduce the commission’s recommendations without first putting them through the committee.

“My problem is, if it was in committee it should go back to committee to be voted out of committee,” said Hyslop.

Councilor Rob Pero said he thought the group had come up with good initiatives, but was concerned over how their success would be evaluated. He said he felt the Public Safety Committee would be able to better address any questions regarding the proposals. Deputy Mayor John Russell said it was a matter of procedure. Mayor Martin Olsen agreed that the suggestions needed more discussion.

“I think this issue is too important to be giving it a cursory glance here tonight when we just got it on Friday,” said Olsen.

Buscetto argued that the council receives materials the Friday before every meeting, and that it has approved some items without any supporting materials. He also said that putting off a vote on the recommendations could push it past the deliberations for the 2012 fiscal year budget, delaying the funding requests brought up by the commission. Buscetto was critical of the other councilors for not attending the Safe City Commission meetings.

“It was so important to these councilors that none of them came to the meetings,” said Buscetto. “It’s sad, but again this is why New London is where it is. This is why we need new leadership.”

Buscetto is running for the newly strengthened mayor’s position as a Democrat. The remarks did not go unanswered by Councilor Rob Pero, who is also running for the position as a Republican. Pero said that he and Buscetto disagree on some matters, but “the attacks have to stop.” In the exchange that followed, Pero told Buscetto, “I’ll put my record against yours any day.” Olsen threatened to call a recess if the debate between Buscetto and Pero did not cease, and did so soon after.  

“You’re a fraud,” Buscetto said to Pero after Olsen banged the gavel. “You have been and you always will be.”

The vote was taken swiftly after the council reconvened.