Petition to Recall Councilman Jesse Kendle approved
Committee has 160 days to garner 2,175 signatures
A petition to recall sitting Councilman Jesse Kendle, elected into office November 2014, can move forward, City Clerk Cindy Dye said.
The recall petition was brought by a Committee comprised of residents Duanne Small, Mabin Womble, and Brian Bass.
The approval comes one month after the committee filed a notice petition.
Dye said the Committee will have 160 days from the Feb. 25 approval date to collect the needed 2,175 signatures that represents 25 percent of registered voters.
The recall petition seeks a special election, which according to the Monmouth County Board of Elections, would come at an approximate cost of $25,000.
The Recall Committee can opt to provide no more than a 200 word statement of reason for the recall. Kendle would then have the opportunity to provide a rebuttal that would be included on any petition circulated by the Committee.
Dye said a petition proposing ordinances that call for the creation of a civilian police review board, increased minimum wage for seasonal and part-time city employees, expansion of club liquor licenses and their hours, and a residency requirement for city employees will not move forward.
“It’s pretty much dead,” Dye said. “They had 10 day from my initial [Feb. 1] letter to cure any deficiencies. They sent me a letter on Feb 12 and a corrected letter on Feb. 16 refuting my reasoning. I wrote them a courtesy letter on Feb. 12 stating that I stand by position and determination to the Mayor and Council. I have not heard back and they used up their 10 days.”
The Committee of petitioners is comprised of James Famularo, Derrick Grant, Darryl Hammary, Mabin Womble, and Felicia Simmons.
The group also submitted a referendum in opposition of the recently adopted Deputy City Manager wage decrease.
