HAMMOND – Town residents voted 288 to 254 Tuesday in favor of extending term limits for its top elected officials.

The town supervisor, town clerk and highway superintendent will begin serving four-year terms in those positions beginning next fall.

St. Lawrence County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner Thomas A. Nichols said absentee ballots postmarked by Tuesday are still coming in and won’t be tabulated until late next week.

But Town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram said he is comfortable with the 26-vote lead.

“The extension gives people more time to develop and institute more programs,” he said. “I don’t think there are too many town and village positions left that only have two-year terms.”

The longer terms were proposed by resident Merritt V. Young in June, and more than 80 residents signed a petition supporting the change.

Donald H. Greene, who has served as highway superintendent for three years, said he is relieved he does not have to campaign every two years.

“I’m very happy,” said Mr. Greene. “It’s going to be a lot easier. It’s kind of a pain to run every two years. You’re in one full year before you have to start getting signatures and campaigning again. You don’t get a whole lot accomplished in two years, anyway.”

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