BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

CANTON—  Justice Michael Morgan says that it has been difficult finding qualified security personnel to staff Canton’s Town Court, and asked the town board for assistance keeping that role filled.

The town board accepted Morgan’s request to provide Canton’s court security guard with guaranteed work hours and a slight pay increase.

The arrangement will provide the officer with a guaranteed four hours of work time even if court remains in session for less than that amount of time. The officer will also receive a pay raise to $30 per hour from $28.

Morgan joked that Canton Town Court has a problem in being “too efficient,” so employees paid by the hour, like the Norwood Police officer tasked with court security, are sometimes on call for less than two hours of work.

“We have to have security for the court,” Morgan said, but admitted that the amount of time spent in session can vary widely.

Morgan said guaranteeing a base of four hours would provide incentive for workers to continue to provide court security services.

The judge also cited a shortage of personnel qualified to do the job, noting that only licensed police officers may fill the role. Because most police are either already employed or retired, the pool of candidates is shallow, Morgan said, adding that he has made many phone calls trying to find someone willing.

Local municipal courts also have the option of hiring deputies from the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office for court security, though town officials rejected this idea in Canton largely due to their hourly rate of $40.

The four-hour arrangement and raise to $30 per hour was approved unanimously following a motion from Deputy Town Supervisor John Taillon.

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