NORWICH – A notable increase in manufacturing and business throughout Chenango County in recent years has led to a pending agreement between county emergency management officials and the City of Norwich Fire Department intended to strengthen the area’s hazardous materials (hazmat) response team.

Last week, the Chenango County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution authorizing Board Chairman Lawrence Wilcox to sign a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the county with the City of Norwich. Under the agreement, Chenango’s hazardous material response team would be permitted utilize no more than six trained hazmat technicians from the Norwich Fire Department, along with equipment and other additional emergency resources from the county.

The agreement would also hold the responsible party fiscally accountable for any hazmat spills, meaning the company tied to the spill would be billed for cleanup and county officials would reimburse the city fire department for labor used.

Although the agreement has yet to be finalized between the city and county attorneys, no conflicting issues are anticipated before the agreement takes effect, said Chenango County Emergency Management Director Matthew Beckwith. He pointed to similar successful agreement between municipalities in neighboring Broome and Cortland counties.