Is changing the tax collector’s position from elected to hired a “knee-jerk reaction” that will take away voter choice, or a practical change to the Oxford town charter that will hold the tax collector to a higher standard?
The people of Oxford are one step closer to making that decision, after the Oxford Charter Revision Committee Wednesday passed along that proposed charter change to the Board of Selectmen for its consideration.
The only change proposed is to make the tax collector’s position an appointed job, rather than an elected position.
Background
The issue is particularly heated because the proposed change comes on the heels of the town’s tax collector scandal.
Former tax collector Karen Guillet resigned from the post in June, in the midst of an investigation into alleged financial improprieties that came to the surface in January.
The State Police Major Crime Unit is investigating the possible theft of funds, but has not made any public determinations in the case.
As of Wednesday, no charges have been filed against Guillet.
Click here to read all the past coverage on the topic.
“Are you just doing a knee-jerk reaction because of what happened?” asked resident Dave Stocker at a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday.
Process
As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, the Charter Revision Committee was still finalizing wording for the proposal.
From there, the Selectmen will review the proposal, hold a public hearing and possibly request changes in wording. The Board of Selectmen could also reject the proposal outright, which would block the proposal from appearing on the ballot in November, according to committee chairman Brett Olbrys.
Once the proposal is on the ballot, the voters will have the final say on whether to make the change.
Public Hearing
The Charter Revision Committee held a two-hour long public hearing on the measure Wednesday night.
About 25 people attended. Their viewpoints fell on both sides.
Those in favor of the measure — including Olbrys — gave the following reasons:
- Hiring a tax collector would allow the town to draw from a large group of certified people, who would be required to have experience.
- The employee could be fired if a problem arose in their work. An elected person can not be removed and must be paid until the end of their term, Olbrys said.
- Having a hired tax collector would take the politics out of the process, Olbrys said.
Click on the second video to hear the viewpoint in more depth.
Those opposed — including Selectman David Yish — gave the following reasons:
- It takes away a choice from the voters.
- If the tax collector becomes part of the union, as proposed, it removes some of the power to remove him or her from office in light of problems.
- The process would remain political because the Board of Selectmen would ultimately chose the tax collector from the list of candidates.
Click the first video to hear the viewpoint in more depth.
Several other people at the hearing said they would like to see the Board of Finance be involved in the selection search committee.
As the proposal was presented early Wednesday, the selection search committee only included the Finance Director and members of the Connecticut Tax Collector’s Association.
In response to the public input, the committee decided to add one board of finance member to the selection search committee, Olbrys said.
