The Chenango County District Attorney’s Office is seeking a five-year lease with the Eaton Center in Norwich that will allow it to continue grand jury proceedings inside the building. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NORWICH – The Chenango County District Attorney’s Office is pondering a lease agreement for space at The Eaton Center in Norwich, a move the DA says is necessary to maintain active grand jury operations.

The proposed agreement was initiated five months ago by the owner of The Eaton Center, who received interest from a private party to lease the space where grand jury proceedings have taken place since 2020. Offering the county the first option to enter a long-term lease for the 3,300-square-foot space, The Eaton Center entered negotiations with the county clerk, treasurer, and attorney.

“I need a place where I can continue to have a grand jury,” said District Attorney Michael Ferrarese, noting that the current space is large enough to hold 75-90 people called for jury duty. “The space we have is outstanding for a grand jury. I would hate to lose it.”

Following negotiations, the county has reached a preliminary deal where it would pay The Eaton Center $1,500 per month for five years, with a 10% discount applied if the first two years are paid upfront. The remainder of the agreement would be paid month-by-month.

The tentative deal would also allow the DA’s Office to continue grand jury proceedings rent-free until the lease agreement starts in 2027, and provide additional file storage space. When not needed for a grand jury, the DA’s Office would permit use of the space by other county departments for meetings, conferences, and training events as needed.

Ferrarese said the $32,400 needed to cover the first two years of the lease can be taken from a line in his budget typically earmarked for outside counsel, saving an additional burden on the county’s upcoming 2027 budget. The remaining three years of the lease would have to be built into the DA’s budget starting in 2029.

The proposal was approved by the county’s Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee last week and will go to the Chenango County Board of Supervisors for final approval in September.