ANDOVER – Town Clerk Elaine Morton presented a citizens’ petition to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday to recall Selectman Susan Merrow from office.

The cited reasons included conflict of interest, neglect in performing duties of office and behavior unbecoming a public official.

Several Merrow supporters in the audience at the board meeting demanded to know what was meant by a “conflict of interest” and noted that the petition’s wording left much open to interpretation.

‘I hear a lot of feedback’

Merrow said townspeople were not shy about speaking their minds, either in favor of or strongly opposed to her work as a town official. She was elected to the board last March.

“On any given day, I hear a lot of feedback,” she said, noting that she had received cards and letters of support.

“It’s gotten to the point where two or three citizens have a personal vendetta against me,” she said. “Andover is becoming unified by becoming more accountable to each and every one of us as taxpayers.”

Some in the audience applauded when Merrow finished.

Earlier in the meeting, Merrow addressed what she described as irresponsible spending by some officials.

“Most of what is in a state of flux with our finances is no one person’s fault,” she said. “It’s been occurring over years. Over time, it is important that we stick to the budgets.”

With tax commitment time approaching, there was about $110,000 in the town’s checking account.

Treasurer Sandy Conrad asked which departments had an adverse impact on Andover’s budget in previous years, pointing out that just before tax commitment, the amount in the checking account is typically lower than at other times.

Merrow stressed that it was crucial for voters to be concerned about how their tax money was being spent. “I can’t control federal tax dollars, but when selectmen, department heads, the secretary are irresponsible with town spending, it impacts all of us.”

Public tax money, she noted, can only be spent with voter approval.

Recreation Committee elects new officers

In other business, Merrow had contacted the town’s legal counsel through the Maine Municipal Association regarding the Recreation Committee’s Sept. 8 meeting in which a vote was taken to change officers on the committee.

Member Paul Hutchins had asked for the legal opinion. He noted that the committee had two-year terms for officers and that his term as chairman had not expired.

Majority rules

According to the MMA, Merrow said, the recreation committee’s vote to change officers was legal, as a motion was made and a vote was taken by a majority of the committee. There was nothing in the policy to prevent them from doing that, she said.

“The rec committee can change selectmen’s policy?” Hutchins asked in disbelief, noting that selectmen had voted on April 8 to have two-year terms for committee officers. “It’s in the bylaws of the rec committee that selectmen set the policy.”

In the Recreation Committee’s vote, Tina Farrington was elected chairwoman; Angie Smith, secretary; and Kevin Scott, treasurer.