Decker to lead county board for 10th term

NORWICH – Legislative leaders have appointed Richard B. Decker (R-North Norwich) to his 10th term as chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors..

The appointment was made during an organizational meeting held Tuesday. Committee slates and meeting schedules will follow during the first official board meeting of 2007 at 10:30 a.m.Monday in the County Office Building, 5 Court St. Board of Supervisors meetings are held on the first Monday of every month and are open to the public.

Decker expressed his gratitude for “the honor and privilege” to serve a board that cooperates to support “what is best for all county residents.” He also commended the government’s 26 department heads for their “outstanding” and “professional” work.

“We all know they are the ones that make this government work,” he said.

In reviewing 2006, the chairman specifically recognized the Chenango County Department of Transportation and Emergency Management Office as well as all municipal fire and highway departments and volunteers for their “hard work” during the flooding episodes in June and October. He thanked the county’s residents who suffered “for their patience and understanding of the processes they were asked to go through.”

For 2007, Decker said he hopes to spearhead the demolition of the jail cell structure that connects the former Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and its adjacent jail facility, and move forward with necessary facade improvements. A consulting firm hired last year made the suggestion to separate the structures into two distinct office buildings for use or for sale. A discussion of alternative interior renovations at the Sheriff’s Office will continue, he said. Personnel from the Social Services and Mental Health departments are already occupying the 104 year-old jail.

In addition, Decker listed the county’s $700,000 communications tower project as one of the board’s top priorities this year. Three towers are scheduled to be erected this spring in Norwich, Coventry and Otselic. Negotiations continue on locating cell towers in Sidney and Sherburne. The project also includes towers at Mill Brook in New Berlin, Cook Park in Greene and at the county landfill in Pharsalia.