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Board members came to their decision at a work session on March 25 after hearing from current and former elected town officials, including incumbent Town Clerk Anne Curran, who is not seeking another term in this year's election.
Supporters of keeping the position elected argued that it is necessary to maintain independence from the Town Board and to serve as a check and balance in local government.
Curran, who supports keeping the office elected, called it “a very different position than any other department head.” She also read a letter from one of her predecessors, Ann Lieber, who also opposed a change.
“I feel strongly that the town clerk should remain elected in order to maintain the integrity and independence of the position," Lieber's letter states. "As an elected official, the clerk has a mandate directly from the public.”
Lieber also expressed concern in her letter about turnover increasing in the office if it becomes appointed.
Town Board members were open, however, to changing the nature of the Receiver of Taxes Office in the future, although they declined to push for restructuring it this year.
Potential scenarios for the receiver's office that were discussed included making it appointed or merging it with the Town Clerk's Office, a system used in the neighboring town of New Castle.
Councilwoman Barbara DiGiacinto, who brought up New Castle's model, voiced support for exploring a merger in the future.
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