NORWICH – The City of Norwich government is complex and while residents are well represented, communication among the different levels of government isn’t always as efficient as it could be. Despite that fact, the mayor and supervisors agree that shared services could benefit the city as well as other municipalities.

“As mayor of the City of Norwich, I welcome conversation between the city, county and our municipal neighbors to explore increased sharing of services. We must make this a priority at all levels and do it in a way that is effective and responsible for all our residents,” Mayor Joseph Maiurano said in his prepared goals and objectives for 2009.

“Shared services and consolidation, that’s going to be a priority straight through,” Maiurano said. “We’ve reached a point and time that we need to start getting this act going. We’ve sat on this for too long. It’s hurting the whole state, unless we can change the number of taxing entities there are.”

While the city’s ward supervisors don’t hold any official role in the day-to-day operation of the city, they do represent it on the Chenango County Board of Supervisors.

“Things are going to become very financially difficult, for not only the city, but all of the villages, townships and the county because of the state financial crisis,” said Supervisor of Wards One, Two and Three James McNeil. “There are some little things that we can do to deal with that situation.” Along with applying for every grant that comes along, McNeil said he believes the financial crisis will spur a more cooperative atmosphere between the municipalities surrounding Norwich.

“As resistant as I was to the idea of creating a fire district, I think the economics of it should be looked into more closely,” McNeil said.