Residents Rally Against Recall

A group of Chelmsford residents rallied together at the American Legion last night discuss the recall that Roland Van Liew has initiated against Selectman Jon Kurland, Pat Wojtas, George Dixon and Matt Hanson. 

Some residents, such as the Planning Board member Colleen Stansfield, said they feel the actual reason for the recall is being misrepresented.  Stansfield said she believes Van Liew’s actual goal is to remove Town Manager Paul Cohen from office. 

“A certain angry man has bought himself an election based on misrepresenting what the true reason is that he seeks this recall, to remove Paul Cohen,” said Stansfield.  “This is not about a building or acting unlawful.”

Many of the residents said the repercussions of the recall is going to hurt the town.

“He took a very emotional issue, and turned it into dividing the town,” said Selectman George Dixon, one of the selectmen Van Liew is targeting with the recall.  “If he is successful he is going to set the town back 100 years, at the very least.”

Selectman Jon Kurland said by voting in favor of the recall, voters will be empowering Van Liew.

“If even one selectman is recalled, we are empowering this individual,” said Kurland.  “And heaven forbid if all four of us are, I don’t know whose going to be running, but you know this individual probably has his slate of people who will be glad to run for Selectman.”

Kurland said if Van Liew’s recall is successful, it will make individuals that plan on running in the future more hesitant.

“Who is going to want to deal with this guy, knowing that all he has to do is say the wrong thing, and he is going to either have voters vote this guy out, or get new people in,” said Kurland.

Town Rep Billy Martin agreed with Kurland, saying that if the current selectmen are voted out, no one will be willing to run for anything.  Martin also emphasized how the recall has now moved past the building at 9 North Road, saying that at this point 9 North Road is off topic.

“No matter how you vote, it will have no effect on 9 North Road,” said Martin.

Former selectman Jon Carson said he feels the building at 9 North Road should not have been built.  However, he said that despite this, he feels a recall is not the solution.

“A recall is not the way to address that decision,” said Carson.  “Who in the right mind is going to run for elected office if this is successful?”

George Merrill said those against the recall should focus their attention on garnering media support.

“The important thing is to get the media behind you,” said Merrill.  “I’ve done two of these before, and without the media, you’re not going to be winning.”

Residents at the meeting last night also discussed how to spread their message for the upcoming election.

Plans include simply talking about the situation with others, using the print and electronic media, using social media such as Facebook, and making a Choose Chelmsford website.   

Town Representative Alex Buck said that going ahead, the residents of Chelmsford need to focus on what is best for the town of Chelmsford itself, and not the issue regarding 9 North Road.

 “When it comes to choosing the town of Chelmsford, there is a clear winner,” said Buck.

Jon Kurland said Chelmsford has always been a wonderful place to live, full of great people willing to lend a hand.  Kurland said that he recalls hearing stories on how the town used to be divided, between North Chelmsford and Chelmsford Center, and that he fears this recall may result in a similar rift in the town.

“We need to keep Chelmsford the wonderful town that it is, not the divided town that it used to be,” said Kurland.  “Hopefully we can bring more people together, work hard, and on August 2, we are going to look at each other and say ‘we saved this town.’ ”