NORWICH – Just two of the more than 50 resolutions considered by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors earlier this week were debated: Whether to chargeback towns for property maintenance complaints and whether to spend $20,000 on a study of the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad tracks.
Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, pulled both items for further discussion.
In the first instance, while the Preston supervisor said implementing chargebacks was “a fair solution” to the Code Enforcement Department’s current $100,000 shortfall, he questioned whether doing so would open up the doors for other departments to begin charging back towns for services. No member of the board answered him.
Town of Afton Supervisor Robert D. Briggs said he couldn’t support the measure because it would be akin to paying for code enforcement services twice. All but four municipalities in Chenango County rely on the county to conduct fire and building inspections and to enforce codes mandated by state and local laws.
“When we signed on, it was my understanding that our complaints were going to be taken care of. It’s not getting done, so I can’t support this,” Briggs said. He later added, “the county’s revenue line for fees collected might drop if the towns decide to do their own code enforcement.”
Supervisor David C. Law, R-Norwich, has warned publicly in the past that his council would be contracting for their own services. Substantial fees were collected into the county’s coffers from Wal-Mart Supercenter and Lowe’s, both built in the town over the last two years.
“We had a plan when the department mushroomed, that later we would see a downsizing once things dropped off. We haven’t,” Law said, objecting to the number of staff in the department.
City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli said she would oppose the resolution based on issues having to do with personnel in the department.
Town of German Supervisor Richard Schlag, a member of the Health and Human Service Committee, said the department couldn’t continue to pay for itself unless another large developer comes to the area. The division of the Chenango County Public Health Department has paid for itself since 2000.
“Are we going to support this department or make them pay as much as possible? We either take it out of county share or bill for services,” he said.
Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, said the change would tie the department’s performance to fees collected.
The measure passed by a vote was 14 to 8, with supervisors from the following towns opposed: Afton, Bainbridge, New Berlin, Norwich, Plymouth and Smyrna. City of Norwich Supervisors Natoli and James J. McNeil also opposed the measure.
The county board also unanimously agreed - via a voice vote - to appropriate $20,000 for a feasibility and market analysis of the NYS&W. The Cooperstown-based railroad has begun abandoment procedures. The Chenango County Area Corporation, the county’s lead economic development agency, will also pay $10,000.
During the discussion, Flanagan asked whether Chenango County was considering purchasing the tracks for future development purposes. The resolution states that the study would examine the liquidation value of the tracks, among other specifics.
“Why do we need to know that? Are we looking to purchase, develop?” Flanagan asked.
Chairman of the Board Richard B. Decker said he “wouldn’t believe any of NYS&W’s theories” about what the tracks might cost, prefering to have a study conducted to find out.
Natoli, chair of the Economic Development Committee, said the study would provide “a snapshot” and “put pen and paper together” for a possible scenic rail, trail or park system, and/or incorporating a functioning railroad along portions of the track.
City of Norwich’s James McNeil said there were previous studies that already addressed future development of the tracks. “I’m especially for a trail or park, but why not use studies that have already been done on this?” he asked.
Flanagan also objected to helping the Area Corporation pay for the study, saying the money reaped from the Eaton Center’s sale last year would be enough for that organization to go it alone.
“I’ve been asking the treasurer for a flow chart of where taxpayers’ money is going in terms of economic development activities at the county, and with the merged Chamber organizations. I never seem to get it,” he said. “I know people are working hard at economic development, but I’m still not sure where our money is going in that regard.”
Chairman Decker said the actual merger of the Area Corp., Greater Norwich Local Development Corporation, the Chenango Industrial Development Agency and Commerce Chenango was not yet official. “It’s in the state’s court. It could be another 6 to 8 months,” Decker said.
Following the meeting, Flanagan said, “That was news to a lot of us.”
Supervisor Bays also expressed his frustration with following economic development spending on behalf of the county. “There seems to be ongoing confusion as to how we are proposing to realign the Chamber,” he said.