NORWICH — At a joint committee meeting earlier this month, Norwich Police Department Chief Rodney Marsh presented council members with a request from the Norwich High School graduating class to hold a parade for a second year.

"They asked if the High School graduating class could hold another parade, similar to the one they did last year," said Marsh. "No folks, no attachments, just the graduating class in private vehicles, led by maybe a fire truck, a police car, followed up by a police car."

Currently, the drive through is set to take place on Friday June 25, after the Senior Awards Night, according to student advocate Lisa Natoli.

She said students would be departing at approximately 8 p.m. The graduation ceremony is set to take place the next day, but at this time there is no information regarding COVID-19 guidelines.

"So what the plan is, is Friday night graduation weekend, it's the Senior Awards Night, so they would just leave from the school, right from the Senior Awards Night," said Natoli. "Just hop in their cars and go."

However, Marsh had some concerns. He stated that at last year’s graduation parade, he witnessed some dangerous activity by the students, something he doesn't want to see happen again this year.

"Some of my concerns were some of the dangerous stuff I saw last year with the parade," said Marsh. "There were some students hanging out of windows, hanging out of moon roofs, laying and sitting on hoods."

Marsh also stated that he had been emailing with Natoli about his concerns. According to Natoli, she, Marsh and High School Principal Kisten Giglio are working on a code of conduct for students stating that they would abstain from dangerous behavior at this year's event.

"A code of conduct essentially, if you're agreeing to participate in this drive through you're going to agree to follow traffic and safety rules, you're agreeing to not sit on the hood of your car. There will be no trailers or anything of that fashion. You know, encouraging the rules and all that stuff, turning it into a positive but trying to control the negative behavior," said Natoli.

Norwich Mayor Shawn Sastri also had concerns regarding the current COVID-19 guidelines, and making sure the students are following them.

"Just like any event that happens in Norwich, right now we're asking them to contact public health, follow the CDC guidelines, and give some sort of documentation that they're following the guidelines," said Sastri.

Natoli stated they may add a statement in the code of conduct concerning CDC guidelines, ensuring the students would be following social distancing when gathering for the parade.

Alderman Matthew Caldwell stated that he wouldn't want behavior by last year's students to effect the current graduating class, and that he would like to make the parade happen because the pandemic has taken so much from students already.

"I'd like to give them a chance, and if the Chief feels more comfortable with the way it's set up, I think it's a great thing. For these kids to miss out on something just because a worldwide pandemic stole their whole life from them, it's not fair," said Caldwell.

Marsh explained that the planned route is from Norwich High School, down Midland Drive, to Hale Street, South Broad Street, North Broad Street, and would end at the North Plaza. He also explained that this would require a brief road closure at the intersection of Hale Street and South Broad Street.

"Everybody together in one line we'd probably have to [close traffic]," said Marsh. "It depends how many officers we have on too that night. They would only be at the intersection for a minute."

A motion was presented to discuss the matter further at tonight's Common Council meeting, and was voted for in favor by all members present.