NORWICH – In order to comply with New York State’s Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, the City of Norwich will soon be upgrading its hardware and software capabilities.

The city adopted the mandatory state codes at the Tuesday meeting of the Common Council, but they have been discussing the need for new software much longer. Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence said he will need it even more now in order to handle the increased amount of paperwork required.

Although the issue has been discussed for several months, the city had not purchased the software until this point, due to not having adequate hardware to operate the new program. “We need to get the hardware in place before we get the software,” Alderman Robert Jeffrey had said at the last finance and personnel committee meeting.

The city has now agreed to purchase the new software and upgrade the hardware. The hardware and software will be used not only by the codes department, but by all of city hall.