Three incumbents on the West Orange City Council were given their oaths of office for another term Monday. Mayor Roy McDonald, Dr. Frances Droddy-Lopez, and Carl Thibodeaux were sworn in by City Attorney Rex Peveto during the City Council meeting. Following the swearing in ceremony the council unanimously elected Shirley Bonnin to continue as the Mayor Pro-Tempore.
Tax exemptions for Fiscal Year 2017 were approved by the City Council with no changes from last year. The Homestead exemption will be 20 percent, the exemption for citizens age 65 or older will be $17,000, and the exemption for disabled citizens is also $17,000.
West Orange has hired Curtis Craig to complete the audit for Fiscal Year 2016 that was never completed by the accounting firm of Sandersen and Scheffer. The City Council on Monday approved City Secretary Theresa Van Meter to request proposals for auditing services to cover next year’s audit.
Mayor McDonald made a motion that the breakdown of payments to the accounting firm chosen to do the 2017 audit be adjusted to save 20 percent of the payment to be paid after the City Council has approved the audit presented. McDonald pointed out, “Based on past experience, I think that it would be more advantageous to hold a larger retainage at the end to see that you get a completed audit.”
The mayor’s motion was approved by the council. The breakdown will now be 40 percent initially, 40 percent upon the presentation of the audit, and the final 20 percent when the audit is accepted by the council.
Volunteers for the West Orange Animal Shelter were recognized with a certificate of appreciation. Traci James, Debbie Schlicher, Georgia Robertson, and Shauna Seaton were thanked for their efforts to find homes for over 300 abandoned dogs and cats that the animal shelter has helped.
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