The Board of Selectmen will have a public hearing next week on whether to make the tax collector’s position an appointed position.
Right now, the position is elected. The town’s Charter Revision Commission is recommending changing it to an appointed position so the town can get better trained professionals running the department.
The Selectman voted unanimously Wednesday to host a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Aug. 25 on the issue. The Charter Revision Commission has already held a public hearing on the matter.
The Selectmen will meet immediately following the public hearing to discuss the ideas they heard.
Charter Revision Committee Chairman Brett Olbrys said his committee is tentatively scheduled to meet on Aug. 26 to discuss possible changes, if there are any, from the Board of Selectmen.
The issue is expected to be put out to vote Nov. 2, assuming the town completes all the bureaucratic steps necessary to make it happen.
Discussion on changing how the tax collector is named comes on the heels of a scandal. Former tax collector Karen Guillet resigned in June in the midst of an investigation into alleged financial improprieties in the office. The State Police Major Crime Unit is investigating the possible theft of funds. No charges have been filed against Guillet.
While Drayton-Rogers said further discussion would be held at the public hearing, resident David Stocker spoke out against having the tax collector’s position appointed.
“The way it has been for years, we’ve had no problems,” Stocker said. “People fought and died [for the right to vote].”
The board also voted to accept proposed tax collector’s office policies and procedures recommended by an ad hoc committee formed after officials discovered the problems in the tax collector’s office.
Drayton-Rogers said the Board of Selectmen will review the changes before they are finalized.