County moves to add codes costs onto levy

NORWICH – Asking taxpayers to pay for a portion of Chenango County’s code enforcement efforts doesn’t sit well with at least one town supervisor, but despite his lengthy and often personal objections last week, Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown was outvoted.

Finance Committee members representing the towns of Greene, Guilford, and Lincklaen voted to place whatever balance is not covered by fees collected in the department onto the 2008 general levy. Permit fees have traditionally covered the department’s personnel and operating expenses.

Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, sided with Brown on several points, but did not vote on the measure. Chairman are only required to vote in the case of a tie.

Wilcox urged the department to concentrate on completing the more than 882 fire inspections outstanding in order to cover the approximately $37,000 shortfall anticipated by year’s end.