BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – Town Councilman and reappointed Deputy Town Supervisor Bob Washo informed fellow town board members of the increased pressure now placed on the town planning board and code enforcement office from the influx of solar energy projects in the Town of Canton.

“The planning board is not equipped to deal with this,” said Washo at Thursday night’s monthly board meeting. “We need to have a serious discussion about the extra work for a volunteer board. It’s a burden on the code office and the planning board.”

Washo, who sits on the town’s solar committee, said the additional workload has just begun.

“Solar projects take business to a whole new level,” said Washo. “We need to discuss how to adequately prepare the planning board for the amount of work in 2022. Unfortunately we are pioneers in this.”

Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley also alluded to the additional financial duties that the town must now implement.

“We are learning as we go,” added Washo. “There are a lot of moving parts to this and everyone has to understand that.”

Following an executive session, a motion was made by Washo, seconded by Councilman John Taillon, to waive the residency requirement for the deputy town clerk. Leanna Moquin was officially appolinted full-time deputy clerk at the board's organzational meeting Thursday. Moquin resides in Morristown. A public hearing to consider a local law to waive the residency requirement is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 5:45 p.m.

The town’s organizational meeting preceded the monthly board meeting. Action items included:

• Town board meetings will now be held on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.; a change from Thursday night meetings

• Washo was reappointed as deputy supervisor for his 5th year

• North Country This Week, the Watertown Times and The St. Lawrence Plaindealer, when reestablished, were designated as official newspapers. Councilman James T. Smith questioned the designation of three official newspapers, citing increased costs to the town. He stated he preferred North Country This Week because of its larger circulation. Ashley pointed out the town was over budget on publicity expenses [legal notices and employment advertisements] in 2021.

• Community Bank, N.A. was named the official depository