Thursday, December 31, 2020 - 1:37 pm
BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week
CANTON — The Canton town board took a grilling from members of the public over their appointment of former board member Karin Blackburn to the position of interim clerk.
At one point, as many as 72 people attended the Thursday, Dec. 31 meeting where the board made the appointment. That number includes town board members and officials.
Prior to the appointment, town residents in attendance criticized the board’s decision to appoint Blackburn over current Deputy Clerk Heidi Smith, who retiring clerk Lisa Hammond recommended for the post.
Hammond is leaving a year early from her current elected term. The political appointment of an interim clerk to serve out the remainder of a vacant term (Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2021) is solely a town board decision. Both Smith and Blackburn interviewed for the position on Dec. 17, said Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley. The supervisor said state law indicates that the board can not take action on an appointment until the vacancy exists. Hammond’s last official day was Dec. 30. Blackburn resigned from her town board seat Dec. 21.