The New York State Senate

J292

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Walt Ottens upon the occasion of his
retirement after 36 years of distinguished service to the Town of
Sanford, New York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, For the past 36 years, Walt Ottens rendered faithful, consci-
entious and valuable service to the Town of Sanford, New York; and
WHEREAS, Walt Ottens served the Town of Sanford with loyalty, honor
and distinction; and
WHEREAS, Walt Ottens was born in Brooklyn and moved to the Town of
Sanford with his family at the age of three; after graduating from
Deposit High School in 1961, he joined his father in the upholstering
business; and
WHEREAS, In the late 1960s, Walt Ottens took over the business and
continued to operate it on his own until 1999, when he went full time
into assessing and code enforcement; he originally started in Sanford
Town government on the Planning Board in 1976; and
WHEREAS, In November of 1978, Walt Ottens ran for the Town Board and
was elected to a seat; in 1986, he was appointed as sole assessor and
code enforcement officer; he retired as assessor of the Town of Sanford
on December 31, 2008, and continued in the position of code enforcement
for the Town, officially retiring on December 31, 2012; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Walt Ottens served two different terms as the
president of the Broome County Assessors Association; he also served as
assessor for the Towns of Binghamton, Deposit and Tompkins in Delaware
County; and
WHEREAS, Walt Ottens is a member and past master of the Deposit Lodge
No. 396 and is affiliated with the Delaware Chapter No. 244 Order of the
Eastern Star; since 1969, he has been an officer of the Anthony Cemetery
Association in North Sanford, serving many of those years as president,
and is currently its treasurer; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Joyce and their three
children, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and
rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, In his official acts, Walt Ottens was governed by a keen
sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure with the Town of Sanford, Walt Ottens
earned the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Walt Ottens upon the occasion of his retirement after 36 years of
distinguished service to the Town of Sanford, New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Walt Ottens.