Orangetown Sets Public Hearing Regarding Abolishing Tax Receiver

The Orangetown Council will hold a public hearing 8 p.m. July 9 to discuss the elimination of the office of Receiver of Taxes and consolidating the duties of the receiver with the Orangetown Town Clerk.

The measure would require a local law which would have to be adopted by the town board and approved by Orangetown residents during the general election Nov. 5. 

The Receiver of Taxes will also be on the ballot Nov. 5, with incumbent Republican Bob Simon challenged by Democrat Chris Smith. If the elimination of the office goes through, the winner of that election would serve one four-year term, then the change would be made effective Jan. 1, 2018. 

When the came up on in the meeting, Councilman Denis Troy suggested that Councilman Tom Diviny be allowed to make the motion because it was his idea. Clarkstown and other municipalities have looked into similar changes, but it entered the discussion as part of a number of suggestions made by Diviny and Councilman Paul Valentine during the 2013 budget process. 

In addition to all five members of the town council, who voted 5-0 at Tuesday night's meeting to set the public hearing, both Simon and Smith have come out in support of the change. Simon was asked if he would like to speak on the matter Tuesday, but declined. He said he would prefer to speak at the public hearing. 

Aside from the 3-2 vote to reappoint Paul Whalen as chairman of the Orangetown Housing Authority, every measure before the town board Tuesday passed unanimously.

Among items passed were:

• Approve $50,000 from the town general fund to the Orangetown Volunteer Emergency Services Coalition for roof repairs to OVESC homes on Chief Bill Harris Way in Orangeburg. 
• Approve funding for the town's part in the Pearl River Downtown Revitalization project. The project had a target date of this spring, but Councilman Denis Troy pointed out that it is now expected to be completed by the spring of 2014.