CANTON – Voters here turned down a citizens’ initiative request to create an elected five-member road committee during Tuesday’s election. The man who prompted the ballot question says he is going to challenge that.

The vote was 158-103.

Chris Dailey, who had circulated the petition and gathered enough signatures to put the question on the ballot, objected to the ballot wording. He said the petition included a statement that said selectmen were unable to do their duties (as road commissioners). He believes removing that wording from the ballot is illegal.

He said Wednesday afternoon that he plans to take the matter to the Attorney General’s Office.

The ballot question asked whether residents wanted to set up an elected five-member committee to direct selectmen in matters concerning town roads and byways, including the duties of the road foreman and road crews.

Selectmen’s Chairwoman Jackie Conant said such a committee could be helpful if members were knowledgeable about road work.

She said the vote shows that the majority of people believe things are going well with the road program.

Dailey, a member of the Board of Appeals, also objected to the rehiring of road foreman Craig Gammon after he had resigned without advertising for the position.

Conant said the town had advertised for the position, and had conducted interviews and chosen a finalist. That finalist decided not to take the job. The board then reappointed Gammon on an interim basis. She said the board plans to advertise again for the position.

Dailey wants a road committee because he believes the selectmen, as road commissioners, weren’t doing their jobs, and the foreman was making the decisions.

Gammon served as road commissioner for years before the town voted to make his position appointive rather than elective. Selectmen then became road commissioners and Gammon’s title changed to foreman.

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