NORWICH – The Chenango County Department of Social Services is currently making minor cosmetic improvements and assuring handicapped accessibility to areas of the former county jail on West Park Place. The space will be utilized for DSS offices this fall, Commissioner Bette Osborne said.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors gave DSS the go-ahead for a 2 to 3 year occupancy of the Persons In Need of Services program. Offices are being carved out of the former visitation and processing areas. Employees could move over as early as next week.

Other contract agency staff is scheduled to occupy the 103-year old building after Jan. 1.

The facility must remain open until 911 Emergency communications equipment and operations are moved to the new public safety complex in the Town of Norwich. Officials don’t expect that to occur until 2009 at the earliest.