By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON – The village and town boards here are opting to keep their annual contribution to the Canton Chamber of Commerce at current levels. Several months ago, the chamber requested that both municipalities increase their annual funding to the organization’s operation budget.

The chamber is asking the boards for an extra $33,315. The town currently contributes $5,500 and the village $6,500 to the chamber budget.

The chamber is currently funded in part by these contributions from the town and village, with the remainder of its operating budget being supplied by member dues and fundraising efforts.

The organization is seeking to hire a full-time executive director on the eve of the retirement of long time director Sally Hill, who works officially in a part-time capacity. The extra funding requested from the town and village would potentially help fund that increased salary, said Chamber board president Jessica Zuhlsdorf at municipal board meeting earlier this summer when the request was made.

Town Councilman Phil LaMarsh said, during discussion on the request at the joint meeting this past week, that the current municipal contribution to the local chamber was “not that far off from other communities.”

“This would put us in another league . . . another universe,” said LaMarsh of the requested amount.

The amount is about 25 percent of the chamber’s operating budget. Other municipalities contribute similar amounts to their respective chambers, with Potsdam giving 26 percent, Ogdensburg at 33 percent, and Massena at 30 percent.

Village Trustee Sean O’Brien said that if the muncipalities were to contribute such a substantial increase, then they should have some oversite on who gets hired for the executive director’s position. “We need input on the hire,” said O’Brien.

Members of both municipal boards voiced a need for increased business membership in the chamber, perhaps driven by enhanced services available to members through the chamber, before the boards could contribute a greater percentage of funding.

Town Supervisor David Button suggested there would need to be a larger commitment from the community’s businesses to the chamber to justify increased municipal contributions.

“I think that’s key,” said Village Mayor Mike Dalton.

“I take your point, that the businesses need to drive this, not government,” said Village Trustee Carol Pynchon.

“I’m much more interested in stewardship than the level of economic commitment,” said O’Brien.

“Frankly, I want to see an increase in performance, before I see an increase in (municipal economic) commitment,” said LaMarsh.

Trustee Pynchon volunteered to draft a letter to the chamber explaining the postion of the board of trustees and town council.