Possible uses for two state properties in Chenango County that are either closed or slated to be shut down were discussed at a Wednesday forum in Norwich.
There were about 25 people at the meeting sponsored by the county chamber, Commerce Chenango, at the Eaton Center.
Commerce Chenango is spearheading the effort to find a use for the sites. This includes the state Veterans' Home in Oxford that will be replaced with a nearby facility at a later date. Camp Pharsalia is a minimum-security prison that closed earlier this month because of state budget cutbacks and a dwindling inmate population. State plans call for the facilities to be demolished.
Among those attending the meeting were state Sens. James Seward, R-Milford, and Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, and Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford.
Among the ideas discussed for the Camp Pharsalia site was one proposed by county residents Dave Emerson, of Oxford, and Jack Salo, of Greene, for a volunteer training center that could provide leadership and technical skills on a statewide or national basis.
Another proposal by a resident was for the facility to be used as a state training academy for forest rangers and environmental conservation police.
Oxford Mayor Terry Stark discussed some proposals for the Veterans' Home that included a dialysis center and a transition for homeless veterans. A submitted e-mail proposed a health care worker academy at the location.
Commerce Chenango President and CEO Maureen Carpenter said the next step is to take the information gathered and examine each idea more fully. More should be known about how to proceed by August, she said.
Seward said "this was an important first step in a process" in finding a use for the properties.
"We need to breathe new life into these facilities," he said. He said he will do what he can on the state level and work with fellow legislators.
The three legislators will be discussing the options with their federal counterparts, which will be important in finding ways to access stimulus funds for the projects as well as ways to provide services to veterans.
Crouch said having the chamber as the lead agency for the effort will give it added "credibility."
County planner Shane Butler said there were a lot of great ideas discussed.
"It will take a community effort," he said.
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Mark Boshnack can be reached at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 218, or at mboshnack@thedailystar.com.
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