MORRISTOWN — Town residents voted 451-156 Tuesday in favor of keeping the highway superintendent position an elected office.

According to the unofficial vote tally by the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections, this means the seat will continue to be a contested position.

Highway Superintendent Michael L. Bogart, who has been in that position since 1992, said he was in favor of keeping it an elected office all along.

“I think the people have spoken, and that’s the way it should be,” he said.

Town Councilman David Stout said he was the one who proposed changing the position.

Local Law No. 4 of 2012 would have given the Town Council the power to appoint a highway superintendent, depending on whatever qualifications it felt necessary.

While the appointed supervisor would serve a two-year term, he or she could be removed at any time by the council.

Mr. Stout acknowledged that he proposed the idea, but declined comment Wednesday.

Mr. Bogart, for his part, said he wasn’t sure what was going to happen on Tuesday.

“I didn’t really have a feel on it,” he said.

Mr. Bogart has also talked in the past about retiring after his term is up next year.

“When it gets closer to that time, I’ll make up my mind,” he said.

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