HANOVER - Two appointments were made at the Hanover Town Board meeting.
Darlene Fox was appointed as the sole assessor for the town.
"I'd like to commend you, Darlene, for the hard work you did to achieve the assessor's certification. The town board has every confidence you will be an excellent assessor. We feel you will bring in an increased level of efficiency to the office and also to customer service and we are very happy to have you in this position," Councilman Kevin O'Connell said.
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OBSERVER Photos by Nicole Gugino
At the Hanover Town Board’s recent meeting Darlene Fox (above right) was appointed the sole assessor and Dana Bennett (above left) was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The other councilmen agreed; they are proud of the work and professionalism Fox brings to the assessor's office.
"I'm confident the town has been raised to a higher level, having Darlene Fox as our assessor. I think we found the perfect person for the jobs and I'm confident she's going to do a great job," Councilman Kenneth Cross added.
Fox became the interim assessor after Karen Bowker's retirement in April. The board approved her salary as $36,000 with a term expiring Sept. 30, 2013.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the current Supervisor Todd Johnson and previous Town Supervisor Kathy Tampio and each of the town board members who have made my accomplishments possible. Thank you for allowing me to attend my required training for assessor's certification.
"I am grateful for all the assistance I have received from my predecessors, Mike Boniface and Karen Bowker. The board of assessment review members have been very supportive, which is greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to serving the residents of the town of Hanover with a friendly and open-door policy," Fox said.
The assessor's office is located in the town hall, 68 Hanover St., Silver Creek, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The board also appointed Dana Bennett to the vacant position on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
"I would just like to thank Dana for stepping forward into the zoning board position. It is often a thankless position, most of the time you don't receive any comments except when someone disagrees with the way you're doing things but we are very happy to have you step up to have this spot," O'Connell said.
"Darlene, Dana, I don't think two better people could have been chosen for these positions. Both of your professionalism stands out," Councilman Wayne Ashley concluded.
Bennett will fill the vacancy left by Richard Erdle with his term expiring in December 2016. The next zoning board meeting will be held Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall.
The board also voted to hold a public hearing on the local law to override the tax levy limit.
Town Attorney Jeffrey Passafaro advised the board to pass the local law to override the tax cap again this year because the formula for determining the town's limit is complex and parts are generated from state agencies as well as the town. However, Passafaro said the local law is just a "safe harbor" from penalties and does not indicate the town will or will not go over the limit.
"It isn't the first year we've done this and people know we are trying to protect them and protect us," Councilman Fritz Seegert said.
The public hearing is set for the Sept. 24 meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. following a workshop at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall.
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