Tax Collector Karen Guillet, under investigation since December 2009, resigned from her position, First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers announced Wednesday.
The situation has not been easy for the town, Drayton-Rogers said.
“It’s sad for us — those of us who have known her for a long time.”
Guillet was tax collector for 24 years. The one-line resignation letter was dated Tuesday and arrived in Town Hall Wednesday.
“Please be advised that I hereby resign my position as the tax collector for the Town of Oxford effective this date,” the letter read.
An investigation started after an anonymous tipster told town officials about money allegedly missing from the tax collector’s office.
The tip started an internal audit by the town’s accounting firm.
“We have collected a great deal of information and that has all been turned over to the detectives assigned to this investigation,” Drayton-Rogers said.
Guillet has not been charged with a crime. Click here to read everything the Valley Indy has published on the investigation.
“The investigation is still underway,” state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said Wednesday.
Vance wouldn’t comment on any of the details of the investigation.
“We can only say it’s ongoing,” Vance said. “Anytime you have an investigation you work at it until it’s completed in its entirety. That’s really what we’re doing here.”
A message seeking comment was left with Guillet’s attorney.
How much money is allegedly missing has not been revealed — but likely will be if an arrest is made.
Guillet earned just under $53,000 annually in her elected position. Whether she qualifies for post-employment benefits wasn’t clear Wednesday.
Since news of the tax collector investigation was announced, the town created a three-person ad hoc committee to review policies and procedures in the tax collector’s office.
That committee submitted a preliminary report last week to the Board of Selectmen, who are reviewing the document. A copy of the draft report is posted at the end of this article.
The committee was also asked to meet with a forensic auditor before submitting a final report to the town.
Drayton-Rogers also said an advisory group is looking at other possible discrepancies involving tax collections.
Earlier in the investigation, officials said some Oxford tax payers received past due notices for bills they had already paid.
“That’s what we’re responding to. There is still information being collected,” Drayton-Rogers said.
The town is working with its insurance company to cover any monetary losses.
The town’s assistant tax collector has been serving as interim tax collector. Oxford has 45 days to fill the vacancy.
Drayton-Rogers said the Board of Selectmen will be talking about the vacancy at their next meeting, scheduled for July 7.
I too would prefer an elected position but when you see the negative consequences of electing an agenda driven group of amateurs like our BOE, at least an appointed position would have to have professional standards and education unlike elected positions.
The Advisory Committee, consisting of 3 members, 2 of which are Republican, have advised the position should be appointed, not elected. By appointing the Tax Collector, you are forcing the appointing person to make a qualified appointment because by not doing so, that person will be held directly responsible for the bad appointment. As an elected position, a person who has zero experience can run and if elected, would be in that position for 4 years, whether they deserved to continue to serve or not.
Would the towns people grab their pitchforks and torches if a new board of selectman chose to replace the tax collector appointed by the last board before them?
Only political appointments will be the result if it does not remain an elected position.
Let the voters decide who maintains that office.Same as is done for the town clerk.
That right eyes see what Jim and Dave are saying is that ‘you can’t trust the people’. Sound familiar? Just them the democrats are smart enough to choose who can best serve.