NORWICH -- For 10 years, the state Community-Technical College Board of Trustees grappled over the perfect location for Three Rivers' consolidation.

That debate seemed over in April 2002, when the state Office of Policy and Management concluded Three Rivers' Mohegan and Thames Valley campuses were viable for the consolidation.

The report ranked Mohegan campus first, saying locating at Thames Valley would take two years longer to realize.

But the debate was revived earlier this week when the Norwich City Council passed a resolution 4-2 opposing the Mahan site and asking for Gov. John G. Rowland's collaboration in finding a better one.

While the governor and Three Rivers President Grace S. Jones said the vote opened the door to the possibility that the college will relocate elsewhere, council members are expressing confidence a deal can be reached to keep the college in Norwich.

In December 2001, the Community-Technical College board voted unanimously to endorse the Thames Valley site.

Lawrence Zollo, the board's chairman at the time, said: "When you look at New London Turnpike, it pops out as the best choice for the amount of money we have, but most importantly to finally bring closure to this lengthy discussion."

Although City Council has no direct control over where the college would go -- that decision lies with the governor's office, the state Office of Policy and Management and the trustees -- at least five of seven council members had gotten behind Thames Valley by Wednesday.

They were Mayor Arthur L. Lathrop and members Ben Lathrop, Todd Postler, Robert Booth and Jacqueline Plowden. Sofee Noblick has been unavailable for comment.

Only Alderman John Paul Mereen said he would stand by his earlier beliefs the college should be brought downtown.

"I have always thought the economic spin-off would (greatly) benefit downtown," Mereen said. "...I think an open dialogue between the governor's office and the board of trustees would be a healthy thing."

OPM's "Analysis Regarding The Consolidation of Three Rivers Community College," released in April 2002, cited the trustees' favorable vote, pending environmental and traffic studies, as a plus for Thames Valley, and other factors. (See chart on Page 1.)

Both sites would cost about the same -- $71.3 million at Thames Valley vs. $72.2 million at Mahan. The governor had set aside $75 million for the consolidation, wherever it's built.

"In terms of timeliness ... the consolidation can occur two years faster at the Mohegan campus than at the Thames Valley site," the report said. It went on to say the delay may cost the college an estimated $170,000 every month.

Another negative for the Thames Valley is that the Norwich Regional Vocational-Technical High School would have to be moved to the Mahan Drive site.

"We believe that the logistics of these maneuvers could easily lead to significant project delays and cost increases," the report states.

The Community-Technical College Board of Trustees will discuss the Three Rivers issue at its next meeting, scheduled for July 28 at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson.

Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon is pushing for the college to be merged on the former Norwich Hospital property on Route 12 in Preston. Groton Town, Plainfield and East Lyme also have expressed interest.

"There are going to be folks who are not happy no matter where we put it," Mereen said. "Hopefully it will remain in Norwich."