NORWICH – Chenango County lawmakers this week spent more than 30 minutes and made two failed motions before agreeing to adopt proposed rules that would include no smoking in the City of Norwich’s East and West Parks during large events. Half of the Buildings and Grounds Committee wanted no smoking in the city’s parks ever.

“It’s ridiculous how it took longer to decide this than it did spending $180,000 on paint,” said Afton Supervisor John H. Lawrence, referring to the 24-karat gold leaf paint that could soon make its way up to the Chenango County Courthouse dome.

City of Norwich Supervisor Robert M. Jeffrey voted for the full ban in the parks downtown, as did the committee’s Chairman Charles A. Mastro of Sherburne and Smithville’s Fred J. Heisler, Jr.