Riverhead Town’s financial administrator set to retire June 14 after nearly two decades of service

Riverhead Town Financial Administrator William Rothaar is retiring next month after 17 years as the town’s chief accountant. 

Rothaar, who is turning 62 in June, was hired during the Cardinale administration in 2007, after coming on as a consultant in 2006 to fill in for his predecessor, Jack Hansen, who was on sick leave. After Hansen retired, Rothaar was appointed to the position as a full-time employee.

Supervisor Tim Hubbard acknowledged Rothaar’s contribution to the town during nearly two decades of service as he cast his vote to accept Rothaar’s retirement at Wednesday night’s Town Board meeting.

“We really really appreciate all the time and effort you put in. You’re always there for us,” Hubbard said. “A lot of institutional knowledge is going to be lost.”

Rothaar will be succeeded by Deputy Financial Administrator Jeannette DiPaola, who was hired in 2022.

The supervisor said Rothaar has “done some good training” with DiPaola and he’s confident the town will be in good hands.

Rothaar agreed. “She’s doing great,” he said in an interview Friday morning. After about four months of hiring her, he said, he felt comfortable hat she had the ability to fill his position. Planning to retire in the not-too-distant future, he talked with his deputy about it and began to prepare her for the transition.

Rothaar said working for the town has been a good experience. “I’ll take a host of memorable things out of Riverhead with me,” he said. “Most memorable are the people — the various boards I’ve worked with, the people I’ve worked with, the residents I’ve met over the years,” Rothaar said.

Rothaar navigated some difficult times during his tenure. The town was behind in its financial reporting when he came on board. It was burdened by debt incurred to close and cap the town landfill. The financial crisis of 2007-2008 sparked the Great Recession and the real estate market collapsed, drastically reducing Community Preservation Fund revenues from the 2% real estate transfer tax. The town had previously issued bonds to pay for land preservation, relying on future CPF revenues that didn’t materialize after the real estate market collapsed and nearly depleted its CPF reserves to pay debt service on the bonds. That led to the town’s credit rating being downgraded by Moody’s. Tough decisions, including layoffs, had to be made by the Town Board to close a budget deficit. 

“Every board, with all their different personalities, were like-minded,” Rothaar said, looking back on it. “Every administration understood what needed to be done.”

Though often short-staffed in the accounting department — accountants are not easy jobs to fill for municipalities, Rothaar said —and working with antiquated computer systems and software, he soldiered through the tumultuous times. 

Today, he feels good about the shape the town is in as he gets ready for retirement.

“I’m happy about where we are now,” Rothaar said. We have a very good staff. We’re set up IT-wise and financially. I’m leaving them in good hands with Jeanette and the rest of the staff,” he said. 

Rothaar’s last day is June 14. But he will continue on a consulting basis after that for up to two years, as needed, since the department is still short one accountant. A resolution hiring him as a consultant was also approved by the Town Board Wednesday. He will be paid at an hourly rate of $195, up to a maximum of $35,000 per year. 

A resident of Miller Place, Rothaar is married and the father of three adult children.