A CLOSER LOOK

Elections for the new Regional School Unit 14 Board of Directors will be held in Tuesday, Jan. 27 in Windham and Raymond. Windham residents will also vote on a charter amendment. Polling places and candidates are as follows:

Windham (Windham High School, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.): Kate Brix, Steve Dow, Michael Duffy, Kane Loukas, Toby Pennels, Marge Govoni and Michael Mack.

Raymond (Jordan Small Middle School, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.): Abigail Davis, Jeraldine Keane, Jennifer Mains, Catriona Sangster and Alizah Shriver.

Less than a week before an amendment to the Windham town charter is put before voters, it looks unlikely that the issue will draw enough people to the polls to validate the vote.

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the same time that voters in Windham and Raymond elect their respective representatives to the new Regional School Unit 14 board of directors, Windham residents will also vote on whether to amend the town charter to allow for the recall of elected officials. The amendment was placed on the ballot through a citizen’s petition.

Because it is an amendment to the town charter, at least 30 percent of the number of residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election must cast a ballot Tuesday in order for the decision to be valid. That means 2,002 people have to vote in Windham next week, a number that will not be reached if absentee ballots are any indication.

“I believe we have 49 absentee ballots that have voted,” Linda Morrell, Windham’s town clerk, said Tuesday. “On an average, regular election – not a gubernatorial or a presidential election or anything – I’d say we average close to 500 voting absentee.”

It is difficult to get 30 percent of the voters to show up for a special election, though it depends on the issue being decided, Morrell said. The budget validation vote last June, for example, drew only 322 people. However, a special election regarding trash bags held in February 1995 drew 1,901 voters, while one in December 2001 regarding the construction of the new high school brought 2,200 people to the polls.

“It depends on what the topic is, and how much money it is going to cost,” Morrell said.

Interest is similarly low in Raymond, where residents will vote only on the new school board members. Town Clerk Louise Lester said she expects a low turnout.

“I’m hoping for 150. I wish it were more,” she said.

If ultimately successful on the ballot, the recall amendment would allow five or more registered voters to initiate the recall process in writing. Then, signatures representing 20 percent of the number of residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election would have to be gathered in support of the recall within 60 days.

If the signatures are certified, a town-wide vote would take place on the recall of the official. A successful recall would then set up a special election.

Detractors said because it does not specify what kind of actions would rise to the level of a recall, the amendment would open the way for frivolous recall efforts any time a resident disagreed with a councilor. They also argued that the charter already allows for recall.

Currently, the charter allows for the removal of a councilor if that councilor at any time lacks qualification for the office, violates any express prohibition of the charter, is convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude, or fails to attend three meetings without being excused by the council.

Resident Will Blanchard, a former councilor, said the town charter should not be changed lightly.

“My opinion of this is it is a major change to our charter, a major change,” said Blanchard. “If we are going to make a major change, rather than doing it by little petitions, I don’t like the idea of doing it, but I’d much rather see a charter commission set up, and open the charter up if that is what people want and start from the beginning.”

Michael Shaughnessy, who helped craft the petition, said a recall statute, if a town has one, is typically listed in the town charter. The language was unspecific on purpose, he said.

“There are many unpredictable things that could happen,” he said. “It is sort of like a safety valve.”

To force a recall vote, someone would have to collect 1,335 signatures, or 20 percent of the residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election. That would be very difficult, even if a lot of residents agreed with the recall, Shaughnessy said.

“It is not something that by any stretch of the imagination is going to be used easily,” he said. “You have to be very committed.”

Just the presence of a recall amendment would help keep the council in line, Shaughnessy said.

“It has the potential of putting people on alert,” he said.