Ellington

City Council members questioned the city's payments to contractors and temp agencies—called the "claims docket"—yet again at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler voted to approve the $1.8 million docket, but only after going over unexplained items. Crisler and Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon spent seven minutes touching on individual payments that needed further description, until Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson suggested the council discuss such issues during Monday's work session.

Barrett-Simon and Crisler still fear potential lawsuits for making payments to uninsured contractors. Council members are personally liable for payments they approve.

The council voted 6-1 to approve the docket, with Stokes voting against. For years, Stokes has voted against the docket, and has only voted in favor recently, when a majority of the council threatened to vote it down.

"That's quite a switch," Councilman Ben Allen remarked after noting Stokes' vote.