NORWICH – A state commission examining local government efficiency has again asked the Town of North Norwich, Town of Norwich and City of Norwich to take part in a shared-services study, local and state officials confirmed Tuesday.
Albany’s first attempt at facilitating a three-way municipal collaboration study failed in November after the Town of Norwich board passed a resolution against participating and the Town of North Norwich took no action to join.
The city, with a weakening tax base, rising fixed costs and no room to expand, has led the charge to examine consolidation.
This time around, North Norwich and the city are taking part, officials say, and have provided financial data and departmental breakdowns to the private consultant conducting the study. It will be funded 100 percent by the state.
The Town of Norwich is scheduled to meet with the consulting firm next week, said Supervisor Dave Law, but Law said he only plans on providing a one-page copy of the town board’s resolution to conduct another fire district study for the greater Norwich area.
“That’s the only thing the town board has made a resolution to look into,” said Law. “A fire district.”
According to the resolution, the town board wants locals, not Albany, to examine the feasibility of creating such a fire district before it will look at sharing services in other areas.
The state collaboration would look at each municipalities’ operations individually and point out inefficiencies and ways to cut costs, said John Clarkson, executive director of the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness. If applicable, it would also point out possible areas where consolidation of services between the three governments could occur.
“We feel this is a matter of public interest and concern,” said Clarkson. “Even as we acknowledge that not all local leaders support consolidation at this time, (this study) would give the commission and local citizens a better picture of where the savings are. We think the results would be of interest.”
Last week the consultant, the Center for Governmental Research (CGR), interviewed city department heads and reviewed financials, including budgets, recent audits, as well as breakdowns of property, assets, spending and revenues, Mayor Joseph Maiurano said.
“Regardless of consolidation, I think it will help point out inefficiencies in the City of Norwich,” said Maiurano. “It could be something for us to go by in the city as we look to improve.”
The same scenario occurred at the Town of North Norwich’s offices Tuesday, Supervisor Richard Decker said.
“My feeling is they’ll give us a basis to work from,” said Decker, referring to the study, whether it be for tightening town functions or exploring shared services opportunities.
CGR did not return a voicemail seeking comment.
A similar study is being conducted in the Oneonta and Cortland areas, Clarkson said.
As for what Law hopes the study will produce: “I hope we get some answers as to whether a greater Norwich fire district is reasonable or not,” he said.
The town, which contracts fire service from the city for around $500,000, questions if that expense could be less if it were part of a fire district. The most recent fire study, conducted in 2003 by local representatives, concluded that there was no advantage to creating a fire district. Several members of that commission have recently said they stand by that conclusion.
If the city cooperated with the fire district study, the town may look into sharing health costs, water, sewer and youth programs, according to the resolution. The town also contracts those services from the city.