05-04-2026 City Council

The New London City Council meeting held on May 4, 2026, focused heavily on issues related to the city's recreation department and its contract with the private company Power Wellness. Union representatives and community members expressed concerns about the city contracting out recreation services to Power Wellness, alleging non-compliance with a labor board ruling that required the city to bargain with the union before allowing subcontractors to perform bargaining unit work. Speakers urged the council to investigate the financial relationship with Power Wellness and to restore programming to union employees. The mayor addressed the ongoing labor dispute, affirming the city's commitment to labor law compliance and explaining the rationale behind contracting with Power Wellness for managing the new recreation center. Budget discussions included mention of a $1.2 million bonded debt service for the recreation facility and state funding of nearly $5 million for education and municipal needs. The council expressed interest in further exploring the labor issues and maintaining support for public works and education funding. No new contracts or procurement awards were announced during the meeting, but the discussion highlighted potential future procurement and budget considerations related to recreation services and labor compliance.