By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Following a half-hour executive session, the Massena Town Council voted 3 – 1 to appoint Thomas C. Miller to a vacant board seat. The dissenting vote was Supervisor Joe Gray.

Miller is chief of the Massena Volunteer Fire Department. He will begin his new duties on Sept. 1 and be compensated $7,000 annually for his service. The seat will be up for grabs in the November election – whoever wins it will be filling the last two years Robert Cunningham’s unexpired term. Miller will have to vacate the post on December 31 if he isn’t elected.

Gray said his vote wasn’t because he didn’t want Miller to do the job.

“I have nothing against Tom Miller. I think we should have left it vacant,” Gray said. He thinks the voters should have the final say over who gets the seat.

“The discussion was what if we have ties in budget discussions,” Gray said of the executive session. “Sometimes the board is split on budget matters; I was willing to risk it.”