A majority -- Mayor Arthur L. Lathrop and Aldermen Ben Lathrop, Todd Postler and Bob Booth -- said the Community-Technical College Board of Trustees needs to reassess consolidating Three Rivers Community College at the Thames Valley campus on New London Turnpike.

"We don't want to lose this college to another town," said Ben Lathrop.

"I think we need to put our heads together and move forward," Booth said.

"At this point, I'm hoping that as a result of the resolution that this does not cause the college to move out of Norwich. I think that would be detrimental to the community as a whole," Alderwoman Jacqueline Plowden said.

Efforts to reach the two other council members -- John Paul Mereen and Sofee Noblick -- were unsuccessful.

The council voted 4-2 Monday night to oppose state plans to consolidate Three Rivers at the Mohegan campus on Mahan Drive, and asked Gov. John G. Rowland to collaborate in finding another Norwich site.

Three Rivers President Grace S. Jones told the council, if Mahan Drive doesn't go forward, she will ask Rowland to move the site out of Norwich, and she called the governor's office Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Lathrop, who voted against Monday's resolution but voiced support Tuesday for reconsidering Thames Valley, also called the governor's office. He wouldn't elaborate on his conversation with Dean Pagani, Rowland's chief of staff, other than to say is was "very positive."

"This is another act in the very long drama of consolidation of Three Rivers," the mayor said. It's time to talk about appropriate alternatives, he said, namely Thames Valley.

Postler agreed, although he said Monday's vote was not binding and if the governor wants Mahan Drive, there is nothing the City Council can do to stop it.

The Thames Valley campus fronts on New London Turnpike, but 150 acres of state land behind it extends through Uncas on Thames to West Thames Street (Route 32).

Proponents say accessing the site from the turnpike and Route 32 would ease traffic concerns. There are some wetlands and possibly an Indian burial ground on the acreage but, they say, those obstacles can be worked around.

In an editorial board session with the Norwich Bulletin last October, the governor, while he supported Mahan Drive, "I have no parochial interest where it goes at all."

Two weeks ago, however, a spokewoman for the governor said, if the council passed Monday's resolution, he would move the college out of Norwich.

Tuesday, the spokeswoman, Michele Sullivan, said: "Right now we are not going to make any decisions," and that the governor will take his time before making the next move.

Sullivan said the state Department of Public Works will continue its work on the final environmental report, which is expected to be released soon, and once released will stop any further work until there is a siting consensus.

The next step may come when the community college trustees meet in Danielson July 28, but the Rev. David Cannon, a trustee and former chairman, said he no longer feels Norwich deserves the college.

However, he said he is still open to locations within the city, including the Thames Valley site, but that Three Rivers can no longer wait for Norwich to make up its mind.

Director of Planning and Neighborhood Services Peter Davis said the Thames Valley site has always made the most sense to him.

With 150 acres and adequate road access for the majority of students who come from southeastern Connecticut via Route 12, Route 32 and Interstate 395, the site worked.

Beyond the college moving out of Norwich, city officials also expressed concern that they could lose $75 million in state money.

City Manager Richard Podurgiel said it would be a blow to the city to lose the college and the money. He met with Davis Tuesday to start looking at feasible locations for the college in the city.