BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON — St. Lawrence County legislators are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to fill at least two vacant seats on the Hermon town board following four resignations in February. 

The town board currently only has one remaining member along with the town clerk, according to Legislator John Gennett. 

That means that business cannot proceed for the town, including a critical $7 million water project that is slated to begin in the coming weeks, Gennett said. 

In response, legislators passed a resolution affirming their support for the governor to appoint at least two members to the board to establish a quorum, which would in turn allow the three members to appoint two additional board members to fill the remaining seats. 

Legislator Larry Denesha said multiple candidates have been identified to fill the roles, including some with political experience. 

“These roles would just be temporary with elections held this fall to fill them prominently,” he said. 

Once elections are completed, those who are elected will fill out the remaining years of the terms. 

Legislator Jim Reagen also touched on the matter, saying it is a bipartisan effort to appoint the board members. Though the St. Lawrence County legislature is made up of 12 Republicans and three Democrats, Reagen said they support the governor in appointing two board members. 

“I think there is a concern with the governor that she may be hesitant to appoint members of her own party, which may not be the will of the people,” Reagen commented. 

But that won’t be the case, Reagen said. 

Legislators say the primary concern is to ensure that business can be conducted by the town, something that can’t occur without the governor’s intervention. 

The wheels began to fall off when three board members resigned on Feb. 27, county officials say. Those board members included Kathy Carpenter, John Reed and Robert LeClair. 

That move was followed by the resignation of former Town Supervisor Arthur Baker just two days later. 

Aside from the board, Town Accountant Sharon Brunet also resigned around the same time. Brunet was responsible for the town’s payroll and distribution of funds, officials previously said. 

No official reasons were given for the resignations.