Five months after the town launched an investigation into the tax collector’s office, the Board of Selectmen is reviewing a report with suggestions meant to bolster financial oversight in the office.
Members of the Board of Selectmen accepted the report at their meeting last Wednesday. They did not take action.
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said Selectmen will review the report and take action at a later date.
Tax collector Karen Guillet was placed on leave in January after Drayton-Rogers said money was missing from the tax collector’s office.
The matter was turned over to state police, who haven’t commented on the matter. Guillet has never been charged with a crime.
Click here to read everything we’ve published on the investigation.
The report, written by an ad hoc committee chaired by Oxford resident Ray Kostka, includes a three-page proposed policy for the tax collector’s office.
It includes security measures, such as:
- “When leaving the office make sure the office is locked. Do not leave the office unsecured.”
Other policy procedures:
- “Checks must be payable to the Tax Collector, Oxford. Third party checks cannot be accepted. Checks must be accepted for the correct amount.”
- “The owner of the taxable property is responsible to see that the taxes are paid when due. Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt the owner from payment of taxes and interest charges and collection costs that accrue.”
In addition, the report includes two pages of recommended procedures in the tax collector’s office, including:
- “All voided payments or transactions should require a written explanation for the reason for the void.”
- “The Tax Collector reports directly to the Finance Director.”
- “Periodic unannounced audits of cash drawers and random records of the tax office should be conducted by the Finance Director, the Treasurer or the First Selectman’s designee.”
The report also recommends changing the tax collector’s job from an elected position to an appointed position, with the requirement that candidates be state certified.
The complete report is posted below. Please note the report is a working document.
