August 3, 2008
By CHRISTINA TATU
FRANKFORD — Supporters of a petition to recall Mayor Robert McDowell are collecting signatures at a roadside tent in front of a local veterinarian’s office. About 24 petitioners have been helping to gather signatures at the tent for just over a week, said veterinarian Sam Castimore, owner of Animal General Veterinary Hospital in Augusta.
Castimore, along with Route 565 landowner Richard Wingle and Castimore’s aunt, Rose Tanis began circulating the recall petition in April.
“There has really been a groundswell of support here, and most of the people signing the petition are not even associated with businesses along Route 565 and 206,” Castimore said.
In order for the petition to be valid, the three committee members need to collect 947 signatures by late August. Castimore would not comment on the number of signatures collected, but said the group plans to submit the petition to the township by Aug. 27.
If the recall petition proves successful, Land Use Board member Gary Larson said there is a “strong possibility” that he may run for a seat on the Township Committee, potentially to replace McDowell.
“(The petition) is not about the development at Ross’s Corner. It’s about the quick ordinances that have been passed and the way that citizens have been treated at the Township Committee meetings,” Larson said.
Recall committee members started circulating the petition shortly after the passing of an ordinance to limit commercial development on Route 206. Following the Route 206 ordinance, a similar ordinance was passed for Route 565.
Township officials said the ordinances will help push development to the proposed township center at Ross’s Corner.
