It only took a year and a half, but Dedham may finally get the combined treasurer-collector position it has been waiting for, after the state Senate passed a bill yesterday that would amend the town’s charter.
The language change would amend three sections of Dedham’s charter, replacing references to a single treasurer and a single collector with the combined treasurer-collector title. The Board of Selectmen initially petitioned the Legislature for the change following a Town Meeting vote in May 2008.
“The purpose of the Board of Selectmen’s original petition was to provide the town of Dedham the ability to appoint one person with the shared authority of one combined treasurer-collector,” state Sen. Marian Walsh, a West Roxbury Democrat who also represents Dedham, wrote in a statement. “This bill is both rational and cost-effective, which is precisely the type of policy the Commonwealth must embrace given our current economic climate.”
The formality will have no practical effect for Robin Reyes, who has been the town treasurer, with the duties of the tax collector, since coming on the job in March 2008. He replaced longtime treasurer Frank Geishecker, who retired in February of 2008.
“It’s going to be pretty much business as usual,” Reyes said.
Both the House and Senate still need to take final “enactment” votes on the bill before sending it to the governor for approval.
Dedham Transcript staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at 781-433-8336 or ecolby@cnc.com.
