By Michael Ryan
WINDHAM - Taking his cue from a famous Arnold Schwarzenegger movie line, he’ll be back, although three local police officers won’t be.
Windham town council members, at a recent meeting, reappointed sole assessor Richard Tollner to a fresh 6-year term, effective October 1.
Tollner, initially hired in September, 2019, was unanimously renamed, saying in a followup phone interview, “this isn’t just a job for me.
“This is about being part of the community. I’m glad to be here in Windham,” said Tollner who served as assessor in the town of Rensselaerville prior to taking this post.
Tollner is known for his efficiency and the cinematic setup of computer monitors in his office, inside the municipal hall in Hensonville.
His desk top is filled with a trio of screens measuring eleven feel wide, a beneficial visual aid to residents wanting precise tax information.
Tollner maintains a 10,000 photo data base, consistently updating the files, a never-ending effort to, “keep tax rates fairly distributed,” he says.
New York State is moving toward a web-based system with Windham ready to lock in. “I’m sure we’ll be one of the earliest participants, Tollner said.
The town is assessed at approximately $890 million, Tollner said, while valued overall, “in the ballpark of $1.3 billion,” a healthy number.
Tollner is active in the community beyond being The Terminator (or rather, The Taxman), working with a special Zoning Commission formed to potentially enact zoning regulations in Windham, an historic step.
The Commission recently held its first public hearing on their draft proposal and was slated to meet again, this week, to review citizen comments.
Changes could or could not be implemented, based on those comments. The Commission will then submit its final draft to the town board.
Town council members are ultimately charged with approving or rejecting the legislation, similarly holding public hearings prior to any vote.
While the assessor is returning, three respected officers with the local police department have resigned to fully pursue other opportunities.
Turning in their badges are Thomas Parquez, Marino Romito and, with the longest tenure at 13 years, Gregory Paspalis, all part timers.
Parquez succinctly wrote, “I resign from the Windham Police Department,” with Romito offering a bit more, stating, “I respect and appreciate all members, past and present, who gave me this opportunity.”
Paspalis waxed eloquent, writing, “I will always appreciate the opportunity the town of Windham has given me to start my law enforcement career, and the pubic trust in me to serve the community to the highest standards.
“I started at Windham Police as a 20-year-old recruit and here I am nearly thirteen years later, wondering how time goes by so quickly.”
Paspalis thanked his colleagues, “who have helped me along the way,” and the town board, “for sponsoring me right out of college.
“Unfortunately, due to employment at NYS University Police at Albany, I have not had enough time to fully commit and put the hours into the [Windham] department like I used to.
“I am hoping, in time, that I have a more flexible schedule, off the night line, and can make a return to [Windham], to start back where I left off.
“Thank you everyone for the memories here,” Paspalis wrote, “I wish you all the best. Stay safe out there.”
Town supervisor Thomas Hoyt, in a followup interview, said Parquez, Romito and Paspalis would all be welcomed back with open arms.
“This happens with a small department like ours,” Hoyt said. “Their lives have necessarily changed and they can’t fit us into their schedule.”
Romito, as another example, is taking a position with the Greene County sheriff’s department as a School Resource Officer.
“They are all leaving in good standing. If it ever happens, we would reinstate them the minute they were available,” Hoyt said, noting the department is very much on solid ground manpower-wise.
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