NORWICH – The Chenango County Department of Public Health is one step further in the process of transferring about 60 patients over to a private sector agency and shutting down its home healthcare nursing program.

Members of the Health & Human Services Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to send a resolution to the Chenango County Board of Supervisors to consider finalizing the change when it meets again next month.

Town of Smithville Supervisor Allan I. Johnson made the motion after department Director Marcas Flindt reviewed the county’s options. Two weeks ago, all of the county’s supervisors were briefed on the pending decision, which could potentially save the county $200,000 in wages and benefits.

“You wouldn’t come to us without being forced to. You’ve made me believe that you’ve worked hard. You’ve seen inevitably that this is the way you have to go. You don’t like it, but you know you have to,” Johnson said.