NORWICH – A. Wesley Jones will soon be able to drop the “acting” portion of his title as Acting Chief Dispatcher at the Chenango County 911 Center, following a decision by the Board of Supervisors to fully fund the head dispatch position.

Jones picked up the additional duties on Jan. 1, following Matthew Beckwith’s appointment as director of the county’s newly-created Emergency Management Department. Emergency management services had until that time fallen under the auspices of the Sheriff’s Office. Beckwith also serves as the Chenango County Fire Coordinator.

According to Sheriff Ernest Cutting, Beckwith’s departure “left a vacuum” at the 911 center. The center has been in limbo of sorts, while Cutting made his case to the board of supervisors on the need to fill both the head dispatcher position – needed to compensate Jones for the duties he has already picked up – and the public safety dispatcher vacancy created by Jones’ ascension to the head job.