By Chris Biancaniello
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Supervisor Patrick Vecchio Swearing In ceremony Jan. 2014Supervisor Patrick Vecchio is looking into a possible public referendum to decide whether the positions of Town Receiver of Taxes, and Town Clerk should be changed from elected positions to appointed ones. According to Supervisor Vecchio, the proposal is being considered to save the town some $225,000 and is recommended in a 2008 report by the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness.
In a conversation with Smithtown Matters last month, the 36-year incumbent talked about NY State’s 2 percent cap on tax increases for municipal budgets and how challenging it is to put together a realistic budget and remain within the cap. He predicts that governments at all levels will be looking for creative methods to remain under the cap.
Town Clerk Vincent Puleo Town Bd. Meeting Feb. 2014Vecchio acknowledged that some may see this as a political move as both Receiver of Taxes Deanna Varrichio, and Town Clerk Vincent Puleo supported his oppenent in the last election. He denies that this proposal is political, declaring that he is just looking to cut costs wherever he can with minimum impact to the taxpayers. He does not believe that the proposal infringes on the democratic process due to the fact that the proposed change must go before residents (tax payers) in a public referendum. Residents will get to vote in support or opposition to the iniative in a public referendum.
Not everyone agrees. “I don’t know where he gets off saying he’s going to save money!” says Puleo. “We take in over $650,000 and touch over 20,000 people. There are 11 towns [in New York] that have over 100,00 people and they all have elected officials. I’ve saved this office $6-700,000 over the past nine years. There’s no initiative for someone who is appointed to do the same. All of the hits that are being thrown my way, they don’t consider the people in my office. Come in and you will see the level of professionalism we display.”
Issues between Vecchio and Puleo go beyond who Puleo supported in the election, recently there was controversy surrounding the fact that both Supervisor Vecchio and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick failed to turn in the required signed oath of office verifying their acceptance of their positions. The failure to turn them in resulted in the Town Clerk Puleo declaring the positions vacant . Vecchio and Nowick were appointed by the three remaining council members to a one year term (maximum allowed by law). An election to fill the remaining three year term was to take place this November; however, the state stepped in passing legislation that rendered such an election unnecessary. Some attribute these problem to Mr. Puleo because in the past the Clerk’s office made sure the the oaths were signed and filed. A job Puleo says he is not required too.
As for the position of Receiver of Taxes, Puleo says, “Are you going to replace Deanna with someone who is making less? Are you going to put someone in with less experience?” He believes it is unclear that these cuts will even save money.
Councilman Creighton - June 2014Councilman Creighton is infuriated by the idea that because people supported him, they will have to pay for it with their jobs now some 6 years after the State report came out, “Mr. Vecchio was just saved by the will of the people, and now he’s trying to disenfranchise them. It is absolutely and positively a political move, he would never have touched these positions in the past.” Councilman Creighton did not mince words when he said Vecchio’s proposal is, “Vindictive, arrogant, stupid, unnecessary, and it will not save a dime.”
If there is to be a referendum on the Supervisor’s proposal in November, Town Attorney Matt Jakubowski will need to work quickly to create the legislation. Once the legislation is created a majority of the Board members will need to support the idea before it can be decided by voters in November.