NORWICH – The recent resignation of the city’s part-time code enforcement officer, combined with an increased work load for the department has caused the city to revamp the position and upgrade the average hours worked.

At a recent meeting of the City of Norwich Common Council, a resolution was passed allowing the part-time Code Enforcement Officer position to be to be upgraded for more hours, and a more specific job description was applied.

The new Ordinance Inspection Officer position will average 36 hours a week, as opposed to the 19 hours previously averaged.

“It’s not a full time position, but hopefully it will help,” said City Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence. The Ordinance Inspection Officer position was upgraded in hours to help Lawrence, who has been working extra hours to keep up with several new regulations and ordinances in the city and throughout New York State. City of Norwich Director of Human Resources Deborah DeForest explained that Lawrence has been working more than 12 hours a day, and at this point, upgrading the position to 36 hours would cost the city less than paying for that amount of overtime.