NORWICH -– Government officials would be more than happy to bite the bullet on $1 million in exterior renovations at the former Chenango County Sheriff’s Office if they knew another entity would pick up the interior’s cost.
Such a plan could come to fruition if the New York State Supreme Court’s pockets are deep enough. Unfortunately - and despite direct questioning - members of the Chenango County Agriculture, Buildings & Grounds Committee were unable to determine that during a meeting with Sixth District Administrative Judge Executive Assistant G. Russell Oechsle.
Oechsle met with the committee Nov. 21 to begin the process of identifying between approximately 700 square feet of chamber space for newly elected Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Garry. Even though Garry’s district duties encompass 10 New York State counties - and much of her first year will be spent judging out-of-county cases - Chenango County is obligated by law to provide her with office space because she is a resident of New Berlin.
The judge’s chambers must entail three separate office spaces and a private bathroom. It is also required to be as close as possible to the county’s courthouse as well as include a parking space.
Oechsle said renovations of any potential space would be 100 percent reimbursable (except for heating and air conditioning) as long as the courts previously approve of the location. Despite two direct questions from Supervisor Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, however, the executive assistant wouldn’t put a limit on the amount.
“They never say how much they got,” Brown said after the brief meeting.
“Sounds like a bottomless pit to me,” Linda E. Natoli, R-City of Norwich, said.
“Let’s do the outside and get him to sign a contract before we put money into the inside,” Brown said.
Brown was referring to options for renovating the former Sheriff’s Office and Jail that were provided by an architectural firm earlier this fall. A $2.4 million plan would separate the two buildings and demolish the cells. The amount includes $1 million for refurbishing the Sheriff’s Office’s exterior.
