BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

CANTON -- The Town of Canton board plans to hold a public hearing on March 27 at 6:15 p.m. to determine if they need a public vote to change the elected office of highway superintendent to an appointed position, or if the town board can pass a local law to make the change.

The board had previously considered the change last fall with hopes of getting a local law calling for the switch on the fall ballot. Further action at that time was tabled, after village attorney Eric Gustafson that they wouldn’t meet the deadline to hold a public hearing on the issue before Election Day.

The hearing on March 27 is to determine if a public vote is needed. If the public calls for a vote on the issue, the town has until Aug. 7 to get the local law on the fall ballot this time around.

The change of the elected office to an appointed position, if approved, would be implemented following the end of Superintendent Terry Billings’ current term three years from now.

The town board is considering the change to implement a multi-year planning approach to managing the town, said town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley previously.

Under the current provisions, the only qualification an individual needs to serve as highway superintendent is registration as a voter in the town.

Re-establishing the position as an appointment would allow the board to consider future candidates, should Billings retire, based on a job histories, and pick from a pool of qualified candidates.

During a board meeting last fall, several members of the public spoke about the issue, with most support being voiced for keeping the position an elected one and praise of Billings work at helm of the highway department over the years.