Champlain board adopts local law to put highway superintendent shift on November ballot

The Town of Champlain on July 8 adopted Local Law No. 3 of 2025 to place a proposition on the Nov. 2025 general election ballot asking whether the highway superintendent should change from an elected to an appointed (hired) position. The board recessed its regular meeting, held a public hearing with a PowerPoint presentation outlining the proposal, and later approved the adopting resolution by roll-call vote.

Town Supervisor Tremblay said the change is intended to ensure the town can hire a candidate with the technical and administrative qualifications the position increasingly requires, and that the measure is not a reflection on the current superintendent. "This is no different from either of our villages who have always had hired / appointed superintendents," Tremblay said during the public hearing presentation, describing required qualifications and oversight by the five‑member town board.

The presentation and the Frequently Asked Questions explained the practical differences: under the proposed appointed model the town board would set minimum qualifications in a job description and conduct hiring; regular performance reviews and personnel policies would apply. Under the current elected model, the presentation noted, there are no minimum job-related qualifications set by law, the position is part-time by historical practice and an elected superintendent generally cannot be disciplined or removed by the town board during a four‑year term except for statutory cause.

Two members of the public spoke during the hearing. Kim Tronblad of the Village of Champlain said she supports the proposal, noting other communities have adopted the appointed model. Resident Steve Ashland asked procedural questions about hiring, firing and disciplinary authority; Tremblay and other board members answered that the town board would review applications, set job expectations and that removal or discipline would be subject to personnel rules and board action.

After closing the public hearing, the board returned to regular business and adopted Resolution No. 29, described as "adoption of local law number 3 of 2025," which the resolution text says places the proposition on the November ballot and makes the change effective Jan. 1, 2026 if approved by voters. A roll‑call vote was recorded with all members present recorded as voting "Aye." The adopted resolution also cites the Town Law process for local law adoption and the mandatory referendum requirement.

The vote does not itself implement an appointment; it sends the question to the electorate. If voters approve the proposition, the town board will thereafter set job qualifications and conduct any hiring process required to fill the position under the appointed model.

Action recorded: adoption of Local Law No. 3 of 2025 to place a referendum on the Nov. 2025 ballot; roll‑call recorded as all present voting Aye.

Clarifying details: the presentation states an appointed superintendent would typically be a full‑time position (minimum 40 hours on site) with salary and benefits set by the town, while the current elected role has historically been part‑time with a town‑set salary and no guaranteed benefits. The presentation referenced Town Law procedural requirements (subsection cited during the hearing).

Next steps: The question will appear on the Nov. 2025 ballot. The board and administration will need to finalize a job description and hiring timeline if the electorate approves the change.