The town once again has a permanent Tax Collector.
The Board of Selectmen Wednesday approved the appointment of Jacqueline A. Orner to replace Karen Guillet, who recently resigned the position in the midst of an investigation into financial improprieties. Guillet has been on leave since early this year after the problems in her office surfaced, and the State Police Major Crime Unit continues to investigate the possible theft of funds.
She officially tendered her resignation late last month.
According to the Town Charter, First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers had 45 days to bring a replacement before the selectmen for approval, and Wednesday she nominated Orner for the position.
“I have thoroughly reviewed the job description and her resume, and I find she the requirements,” she said, “and she is very excited about committing herself to the position of tax collector.”
Orner, a Silva Terrace resident, has experience in real estate appraisals, customer service and customer service experience – qualities needed in a tax collector, Drayton-Rogers said.
Acting Tax Collector Sharon Scinto repeatedly said she wasn’t interested in the job permanently, Drayton-Rogers said, but changed her mind over the past two weeks, submitting a letter of interest dated June 24.
But Drayton-Rogers said by then she had already selected Orner for the job.
“Ms. Scinto stated many, many times to me that she wasn’t interested in the position so we went ahead with other possibilities,” Drayton-Rogers said.
But once she did express interest, she should have been considered for the post, Selectman David Yish said.
“Sharon Scinto has been very loyal to the town and very diligent to her work,” he said. “I believe she should be seriously considered [for the job] in order to maintain stability and not disrupt the operation of the office.”
The best way to establish and maintain stability is to get someone in there that is in it for the long haul, Drayton-Rogers said, which Orner is. Scinto had indicated that she was willing to fill the job until November 2011, when the voters will fill the job.
The tax collector’s position is an elected office, but a committee recently suggested the town make it an appointed position.
“She said she would be willing to fill it until the next election,” Drayton-Rogers said of Scinto, who did not attend Wednesday’s meeting. “That’s not stability.”
Drayton-Rogers and Selectmen Dave McKane both voted in favor of Orner’s appointment, while Yish voted against it.
“My vote is not in opposition to Ms. Orner but in support of Ms. Scinto,” Yish said.
Orner will be paid $50,000 for the first year, which left almost $5,000 left in that salary account. The board approved spending that money to keep on temporary tax clerk June Cobern until mid-August to assist with the transition.
Cobern will both work in the office and train Orner for her new position, Drayton-Rogers said.
Cobern has 25 years of experience and has traveled across the state training municipal tax officials, she said, and has been working in the Oxford office since Guillet’s leave.
