Trustee Becky Pearson, during the Village of Walden’s February 6 meeting, expressed disappointment over the current search for a new village treasurer and requested that the entire board be more involved in choosing a new candidate.

Kelly A. Kelly, the former village treasurer who served the village for several years, resigned from her position on January 31 and started a new job in Rockaway, Queens. For the past few months, the board has been reviewing applications and hopes to find a successor to Kelly as soon as possible.

Pearson stated that Mayor John Ramos was overseeing the candidate process without help from the whole board. She mentioned that salaries should not come into conversation until the board fully knows the chosen candidate’s experience.

“I’m very frustrated with what’s happening. We knew a long time ago that the treasurer was retiring, and I understand that the mayor gets to appoint it,” Pearson said. “But he’s not allowing some of his board members to help with the process. He’s asking about salaries, but we don’t know who the people are, what their qualifications are.”

“You don’t have to come to me, mayor, and ask me questions, but you and the other board members ran with you last year. Maybe you could talk to them and see what they feel is a good candidate,” she continued. “I get you can appoint it, but I think the board should have a say in what’s happening.”

John Revella, the village manager, clarified that Ramos picked a candidate that the entire board will discuss during the meeting’s executive session. Pearson then responded that she would not vote for a new treasurer until she knew the full extent of the candidate’s qualifications.

“I sent an email out on behalf of the mayor. He did pick somebody to be the treasurer, I know that other stuff has to go on, but he did pick a person, just so everyone’s aware,” Revella said.

“I don’t know what the qualifications of these people are, so I’m not going to vote on that without knowing what that person’s all about,” Pearson said.

“While we’re talking about the treasury position, I think the village needs to relook at the residency for hires in this village,” Pearson explained. “I understand that you want people to live in the Village of Walden, but I think you’re really cutting off your nose to spite your face because you really don’t get enough people qualified just maybe in Walden.

“The only people that are restricted by residency are the chief and me for the village and the treasurer and clerk from the Town of Montgomery. No one else is restricted,” Revella said.