By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON -- The Town of Canton board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, to consider a local law changing the elected office of highway superintendent to an appointed position.

If approved by the board, the proposed local law would be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot for voter consideration during the General Election.

The change, if approved by voters, would be implemented following the end of Superintendent Terry Billings’ current term three-and-a-half years from now.

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

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.

The town board’s regular monthly meeting will be held after the hearing. Among the agenda items to be considered are town-wide broadband access, the solar moratorium, Grasse River Blueway and Master Trail plans, the Waterfront Revitalization Plan, Taylor Park and the first review of a new Anti-Discrimination Harassment Policy.

The meeting is open to the public.