NORWICH – As planned, members of the Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee got down to work Tuesday to determine the size and scope of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and Jail building renovation project.

The two buildings on West Park Place will be separated and the old jail cell structure demolished to the tune of approximately $2 million. Representatives of South New Berlin-based John Snyder Architects were reluctant to reveal the fee for the first of three phases in the project. “We need a clear scope first, and we are flexible on that,” Snyder said.

The committee made a motion to accept all three phases of the project in concept and directed the architectural firm to present the schematics and anticipated construction budget for the first phase to members of the Finance Committee Feb. 1.

“The bottom line is they will be the ones to determine where the money will come from. But you have to spend money sometimes to do what you have to do,” said Committee Co-Chair Janice O’Shea, R-Coventry.