NORWICH – New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Richard Daines met with local health officials and community partners on Tuesday for an informal tour of the city and a series of presentations in recognition of National Public Health Week.

Approximately 50 public health officials and community partners gathered at the Chenango County Office Building to meet with the commissioner and members of his staff, and several offered informational presentations on community health programs, services and successes. The common theme throughout the presentations, and commented on by Daines, was the sense of partnership and cooperation among all of the groups involved.

“In all of the years I’ve been here, that cooperation has been really tremendous, and it’s a strong point in Chenango County and the health care community,” said Chenango County Health Department Director Marcas Flindt, who called the commissioner’s visit “a historic event.”

“I certainly appreciate him coming to Chenango County to meet with the public health staff and our community partners. In the months and years ahead, as state and county budgets become tighter, we can accomplish so much more together than we can separately.”