The Village of Walden board, after contemplating the subject for several meetings, may finally amend residency requirements for village positions during a public hearing this Tuesday, September 3. The local law, if passed, will expand the residency requirements for positions like the village clerk and police chief to all of Orange County rather than just the Town of Montgomery.

During the board’s August 20 meeting, Village Attorney David Donovan announced that he revised the law’s draft to reflect the board’s feedback from July 16’s public hearing. Last month, the board was indecisive on the law’s distinction between a resident and residency, resulting in a 3-3 vote; some trustees were satisfied with the law’s definitions, while others felt they could be stronger.

“So after the last meeting back in July, I made some modifications, as the board was looking for a little something more,” Donovan said. “I did put the definitions of resident and residence as was requested.”

While Trustee Becky Pearson was absent on August 20, she sent Donovan an email in agreement with the revisions but suggested that candidates could provide their bills as proof of their residency in Orange County. Donovan discouraged this idea and felt that focusing on this one form of proof could be too restrictive when choosing candidates.

“‘How about having to show something? Not sure if water and sewer would work with your name on this bill. Something a rental would have to pay if they don’t own a home,’” Donovan read from Pearson’s email. “My only response is that I previously advised against that since when you start calling out certain things, you’re limiting yourself to those things without having any other conditions you could potentially investigate.”

Given that three trustees were missing from last week’s meeting, the board agreed to hold a public hearing for the law on September 3 at 6:30 p.m. This will give residents another opportunity to comment on the law and allow for a fuller board to vote without the risk of a tie.