CANTON — Selectmen on Thursday night set Wednesday, Oct. 22, for a public hearing on a petitioned article for the November ballot. The article will ask if citizens will vote on a fire chief every three years rather than have one appointed for them. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office.

Chris Dailey submitted the petition.

In other business, Selectman Robert Walker reported that the Alden Hill project should be finished tomorrow. The town of Jay did the grading and put in 34 loads of gravel. Walker estimates that the project will cost the town about $15,000 when finished, but said it had to be done. Part of the road is in Jay, and both towns have worked on the project.

Selectman Mac Ray reported that the Staples Hill project will be finished with phase one by Monday.

The board had investigated whether to allow the constable to be armed in light of a vicious dog, which was attacking a few weeks ago. The board agreed to have the constable call the police when dangerous situations arise.

The board is considering moving the Town Office to the highway garage on Route 108 since that garage is moving to the new site at the former Department of Transportation facility, also on Route 108.

They agreed to have a design by Oct. 30 and a target date of March 1, 2015, to move in with bids for the renovations, which will be awarded by the last selectman meeting in November.

The board is discussing going to a referendum vote rather than an annual town meeting. This decision will be made at the annual town meeting in June. They decided that if the budget does not pass on referendum, they will then go to an open town meeting for a vote.

After a brief hearing, the board voted to adopt the new guidelines for General Assistance.

The board was informed by the administrative assistant that the 2015 state evaluation has gone from around $52 million last year to $54 million.

There is a need for a Planning Board member.