NORWICH – A Health and Human Services Committee referral to establish a capital account for receiving $34,000 in federal stimulus - an amount offered to every county in New York to fight obesity - led members of the Chenango County Finance Committee into a discussion of the possible disappearance of stimulus.

The stimulus was offered not in up front cash, but as a reimbursement.

“We don’t want to front $34,000 and not know if we are getting the money back,” said Supervisor Wayne Outwater (R-Lincklaen).

A public health department official said accepting the funds would have required attendance at training seminars. The money could be used to create obesity prevention programs in a myriad of ways, either through the county department or for individual town recreational programs, but would not be applicable to afford existing personnel or projects already underway.

“Will we establish something that has an expense further on? Can we pay for it?” asked Supervisor Harry Conley, R-Sherburne.

The referral died in Finance for lack of a motion.