Ortonville- For the third time, the Oakland County Election Commission will meet to hear recall petition language against Village Council President Sue Bess.
The hearing on the clarity of the language is set for 11 a.m., Nov. 30, in the courtroom of Chief Probate Court Judge Barry Grant, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac. Grant will be joined by Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson and County Treasurer Patrick Dohany in approving or denying the petition, the fourth filed by village resident Jane Derry.
The first petition, filed Aug. 18, was on the incorrect form. A second form filed on Aug. 28, led to the first hearing, on Sept. 14, where the language was denied for insufficient clarity. The language was altered and refiled and a second hearing was Oct. 23. The language was denied, with commission members saying it needed to be more specific and include dates.
Ellie Gerber, office leader for Oakland County Elections confirmed that the office had received the newest recall petition language on Nov. 13. The language reads: ‘Sue Bess has abused her power as village president by initimidating her village council members to vote according to her recommendations. She recommended the council to hire an underqualified personal friend into a supervisor village position, on January 23, 2006. She recommended the council approve to pay over $25,000.00 for unwarranted drain improvements that benefitted only the Village Pub, on July 10, 2006, personal friends to Bess. We do not believe this is the appropriate use for village tax dollars.?
Except for the addition of the dates, the language is the same as on the previous form submitted.