57°
The new law was inspired by Easton Volunteer Firefighter Russell Neary, who died while on a call during Hurricane Sandy last fall. The ordinance would make surviving spouses like his wife, Mary Ann Neary, exempt from property taxes on their primary residences in Easton.
“It is the purpose of this ordinance to honor a police officer or firefighter who dies while in the performance of his or her duties for the town of Easton and to ease the resulting financial burden of his/her surviving spouse,” the proposal reads.
The exemption would apply to the surviving spouses of any member of the Easton Police Department, Easton Fire Department or Easton Volunteer Fire Company who dies while serving the town. It would be retroactive to tax bills starting Jan. 1.
Currently, Neary is the only person who would qualify, as an emergency responder had not died while on a call in Easton since 1923, Easton Fire Department member Jack Johnston told the Daily Voice last month.
The ordinance also includes a provision for emergency responders who do not live in Easton. In those situations, a special committee made up of the tax assessor and elected officials would have to determine if that person’s surviving spouse qualifies for the program. If so, then Easton would make the payments.
The Special Town Meeting to approve the ordinance is scheduled for April 1 starting at 8 p.m. in the cafeteria of Samuel Staples Elementary School. The full text of the proposed ordinance is available for review on the town website.
“Please mark your calendars to come and support this important ordinance that will help a family that has given so much to the town of Easton,” the Easton Volunteer Fire Department wrote on its Facebook page last week.
CORRECTION: This story originally included the wrong start time for the town meeting. The correct time is 8 p.m.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.
