NORWICH – Town and city of Norwich officials will work together to come up with a shared “vision” for the two municipalities, whether or not the state is involved, city Mayor Joseph Maiurano said Friday.
Maiurano says town and city representatives are meeting Dec. 7 to discuss the town’s proposal to examine the possibility of creating an expanded fire district and other joint initiatives.
Earlier this month, the town opted out of joining the city in a state-funded merger and consolidation study that focused on the feasibility of sharing municipal services.
The study is part of Governor Eliot Spitzer’s push to cut back on the size of small governments across the state and make them more efficient. As part of campaign, Spitzer’s asked the town and city to consider merging. However, outside of the city, which is battling a struggling tax base versus mounting infrastructure costs, it appears Spitzer’s request has not found much support.
Maiurano said it would have been beneficial to have Albany pay for and conduct the required studies, but says it’s vital that the city and town continue to examine this issue, whether it’s using local or state resources. It’s important that other government entities in the county look at becoming more efficient, too, he added.
“We’re still going to work together to get things going,” Maiurano said. “Because we need to create a vision of the future, not just for the City of Norwich or the Town of Norwich, but look at what’s best for the whole area. Hopefully what we can do is just one step in creating the overall picture.”
The town currently levies no general tax on its residents, and fears the city’s over $14 per $1,000 property tax would figure in unfairly if the two were ever to merge. However, both sides admit there are needs both municipalities could meet by cooperating.
“We have things they need – like water, sewer and fire – and they have things we need, like room to expand,” said Maiurano.
Rather than look at a merger guided by Albany, the town has asked that a local group look at ways infrastructure costs could be cut. Some town residents currently pay the city for water and sewer and all pay a tax to the city for fire protection.
James McNeil, County Supervisor for the City of Norwich Wards 1,2, and 3, says a merger doesn’t seem feasible given the make-up of both municipalities, but believes both sides could start by looking at a cooperative purchasing agreement to lower common costs like for fuel.
“We’re all in this together,” McNeil said. “Our common goal is to save the taxpayers money and do what we can to provide the necessary services they need in an economical manner.”
He said Albany could’ve provided good input and resources in examine the possibility of sharing costs, but believes the necessary legwork can be achieved at the local level.
McNeil’s counterpart, Linda Natoli, from Wards 3,4, and 5, agrees that locals can take on the task of becoming more efficient, jointly, on their own.
“We can’t talk it to death, though,” Natoli said. “We can’t end up like dogs chasing our tails. If we’re going to start this, everyone has to buy into it completely from the beginning.”
Natoli believes small governments and county government can become more efficient. She suggests a focus group be created and charged with examining these questions.
“We need to put someone in charge and give them a deadline to come up with answers,” she said. “The only way this will ever get done is if we have people that will make it their cause and champion it all the way through.”