Town of Canisteo

CANISTEO HIGHWAY DECISION CAN GO BEFORE VOTERS:

Less than a week after the Canisteo town board thought it would have to make a decision on the method of employing a highway superintendent, it has been learned it can go to voters.

Highway Superintendent James Drake has said he plans to retire after his current term expires Dec. 31, 2007. That prompted Councilman Thomas Ryan to ask whether the position should be changed from one that's elected to an appointment of the board. Wanting to ensure a quality superintendent stay in the job, he suggested a referendum vote be placed on November's ballot, but was told at Wednesday's meeting it needed to be done 150 days prior to the election.

But that does not apply in Canisteo's situation, town Clerk Nancy McMindes learned Friday.

“The Board of Elections called me Friday and said the 150 days the proposition has to be on the ballot before the general election only applies if someone is running for that position in that year,” she said. “The proposition will be on the November ballot.”

Since Drake's term runs through 2007, that position will not be on the ballot this fall, allowing the referendum vote to go forward. Ryan doesn't know if a referendum is better than a local law, but said a vote will allow residents to make their voices heard.