Goodrich-About 140 signatures of 175 needed to recall a Goodrich council official have been collected.
Village resident Norm Bass, who filed the petition on Dec. 20, said the process is right on track as a Jan. 28 deadline looms to put the recall of Council President Patricia Wartella on the May 3 ballot.
‘Two large areas of Goodrich are yet to be canvassed,? he said. ‘Right now I’m looking at collecting about 225 (signatures) more than necessary to assure we’ll have enough.?
The petition was approved 2-0 by Genesee County Clerk Michael Carr and Chief Probate Judge Jennie Barkey. County Treasurer Deb Cherry was absent.
Bass filed a previous recall petition against Wartella on Nov. 12, ‘for (her) total disregard for the financial well-being and saf(e)ty of the residents of the Village of Goodrich.? The petition was denied 3-0 on Nov. 21 by Genesee County Clerk Michael Carr, County Treasurer Deb Cherry and Chief Probate Judge Jennie Barkey.
The 175 signatures, 25 percent of the last gubernatorial election (November 2010) are needed within 180 days. No signature can be older than 90 days. Moreover, the deadline will be April 29 for the Aug. 2 election. The new recall language reads as follows:
‘Ms. Wartella voted to terminate the attorney who had represented the village for nearly 20 years. She also voted to terminate the street administrator who had also served in that position for many years. She also said at that first meeting that she wanted to transfer street and roadway maintenance to Genesee County and away from the Village Department of Public Works.?
Atlas Township Clerk Tere Onica said if approved by county officials the recall election will be on the ballot along with the Goodrich Board of Eduction election in May.
The cost of the election will be about $3,500 to taxpayers.