Committee to Recall Manny Goldberg

Reasons to Recall Manny Goldberg

38 East Shore Trl. Sparta NJ 07871

Home (973)729-4347

(1279 votes) Faulkner Election (05/09/2006)

(1624 votes) Run-off Election (06/13/2006)

Malfeasance:

• In our opinion deliberately colluded to pass an ordinance which would cover only the four vending machines in Station Park belonging to Deputy Mayor Brian Brady. (TC Minutes 6/26/07 pg.2, 10/23/07 pg.1, 11/27/07 pg.2, 12/11/07 pg.2&3, 1/8/08 pg.2, 2/26/08 pg.3&4)

• Voted in favor of Limecrest Quarry purchase, without voter knowledge or approval, and without due diligence--incurring a huge liability upon the citizens of Sparta. The ensuing lawsuit (21 counts) down now to (17 counts) is wasting taxpayer dollars on legal defense (including some of plaintiff’s legal costs already awarded by the courts), and any future settlement which we might have imposed upon us. (Purchase Agreement Dated 8/28/07)

• While serving as Mayor and without the consent of the Township Council, directed the Township Manager to stop the reverse 911 call that had been initiated to encourage voter participation in the Sparta High School bond referendum thereby interfering with the election process. (Councilman info)

• While serving as Mayor Manny Goldberg without the knowledge of the Township Council, directly contacted Father McHugh Principal of Pope John High School in an attempt to discredit Mrs. Karen Scott, a candidate for the local school board, thereby interfering with the election process. (Police report & interview)

• While serving as Councilman, Manny Goldberg on Sunday December 9th, 2007 approached the Non Perishable Manager Mr. Carl Bierwas, of the local Stop & Shop Supermarket in an obvious attempt to influence him to remove Petition Circulators seeking signatures on a Petition to Repeal a Sparta Township Solid Waste Utility Ordinance thereby interfering with the Statutory Right of the People. ( Police report & interview)

• At the Sparta Township council meeting held on February 26, 2008 a list of bills was submitted for approval to the council. It contained an unauthorized purchase by Councilman Manny Goldberg of $274 worth of charges he put on his personal credit card, committing tax payer money. (TC Minutes 2/26/08 pg.13)

• Under Mayor Goldberg’s administration, the Sparta Theater was rebuilt. This theater, built in the basement of the Panera Bread building. Although it seats many people at once, has only ONE EXIT. Surely, this should NOT have been approved by Sparta Township in its current configuration. In our opinion this is an accident waiting to happen.

Nonfeasance:

• Between 10/10/06 and 9/25/07, Councilman/Mayor Goldberg was absent for 8 Town Council meetings (the equivalent of 4 months). (TC Minutes 10/10, 10/24, 11/28, 12/12/06 & 7/10, 7/24, 9/11, 9/25/07)

Unethical:

• Voted to double the animal licensing fees for all Sparta dogs and cats–but not those in Freden, Ogdensburg or Hardyston, 07 contract year, whom Sparta also serves. (TC Minutes 2/27/07 pg.4 & New Ordinance Adopted 2/27/07)

• Mayor Goldberg stated he wanted to reexamine WHETHER the citizens of Sparta would like to have municipal garbage pickup in the original "Goals for 2006." He then voted to pass the ordinance, over tremendous voter anguish, and without voter approval. Consequently, the "Goals for 2006" have now been revised, with added editorial comment. (Township website).

• While serving as Mayor created a committee to decorate the new Municipal Building with artwork, then proposed and voted for funds ($2,000) to do this while appointing his wife to the committee to spend the funds, thus creating a conflict of interest. (Councilman & clerk info)

• As Mayor helped promote bid splitting as a means toward hastily constructing a retaining wall, that omitted planned steps as a way of circumventing the bid process, for the front lawn of the Municipal Building, solely for the sake of appearances and expediting he’s insistence on a ribbon-cutting ceremony at tax payers expense. (Councilman info)

Broken campaign promises:

At an exit interview, Karen Scott (a music teacher of 28 years) mentioned that she wanted to run for the Sparta School Board, because she didn't see eye-to-eye with the school's superintendent. Six months later her new boss, Father McHugh, told her he had been visited by Mayor Goldberg, who told him that he wanted Scott to quit the school board elections--and that there was an 'or else' attached to that request. The Mayor alleged that Scott made death threats against Sparta schools Superintendent Thomas Morton. Father McHugh stated that he felt he was being "strong-armed" by Goldberg. See the Daily Record 4/12/07, and the NJ Herald 4/11

JEER: "To Sparta Mayor Manny Goldberg, for clumsily trying to interfere in the town's school board election. Goldberg tried to convince candidate Karen Scott to leave the race by visiting her boss. What's worse is that with all sorts of rumors circulating, the mayor refuses to talk about the matter. That's not leadership!" The Daily Record 4/14/07

"Your single vote matters. We, the people of Sparta, must make the ultimate decisions as to how our town is governed and managed." See Sparta Independent 5/4/06.

"I will encourage my fellow council members to direct the Town manager to hold public meetings with the department heads." (NJ Herald 6/10/06) Just six months later, Mayor Goldberg renegged on this promise and denied a department head (Ralph D'Aries) the right to address a public meeting. Instead, that department head's concerns were only allowed to be aired in a "secret" executive session of the Council members alone. See TC minutes 1/9/07.

Manny Goldberg, and avid proponent of the high school renovation, has helped increase our annual tax bill--for that addition alone--to the tune of $435 a year (for property assessed at $300,000), for 30 years. Star Ledger 9/17/06.

Manny Goldberg stated that "because of recently approved school referendum, the council had to be careful about spending more taxpayers dollars on expensive projects. See Limecrest, White Lake (purchase and updates), turfed fields, ambulance takeover, health department merger, and proposed PAL building and stadium complex. TC minutes 11/21/06

Mayor Goldberg proposed using the Township website to communicate with the people. Goldberg stated that the column would be informational only, and would NOT be used for political purposes. TC minutes 11/21/06

"Any capital expense costing in excess of $1 million should be decided by the citizens through referendum." (NJ Herald 6/11/06)

"If I am elected to the Town Council, YOU HAVE MY WORD, I will not vote based on my personal opinions. I will take action based on the will of the citizens." (Letter to K.D. 5/12/06)

Campaigned that the $4 million budget surplus should be used to "provide taxpayers with a real municipal tax break." (NJ Herald 5/7/06)

Betrayed the citizens’ trust:

• In our opinion Councilman Goldberg has broken the trust that we citizens placed in him. He has frivolously spent millions of Township dollars–all without our approval. The White Lake property cost $1.45 million, and another $1 million is now needed for improvements. The Limecrest Quarry was an additional $2.45 million–but is sure to escalate with the ensuing litigation. He has shown a blind eye to the plight of Sparta taxpayers who have yet begun to pay for the new $71.5 million high school, he is an avid proponent of building a new ($1-2 million) stadium complex, and a huge P.A.L. building for a yet undisclosed sum. (TC Minutes 7/10/07 pg.2, 11/8/07 pg.4, 11/27/07 pg.8, 12/11/07 pg.1, 1/8/08 pg.2&3)

Unanswered Questions?

-WHY did Sparta authorize the issuance of $13,973,865 in bond anticipation notes on May 15, 2008? How much is THAT going to cost us? Are we so broke that we can't carry on the business of the Township on our tax receipts alone? TC minutes 5/15/08

-WHY is it that Byram can purchase $4.25 million worth of land, and spend only $212,000 of their own budget; but when Sparta buys land (like the $2.45 million Limecrest Quarry), we pay full fare? The reason seems to be that Byram spent much time and effort in obtaining monies from the Sussex County Open Space Trust Fund, the NJ Green Acres Program, the NJ Conservancy Foundation, and the Morris Land Conservancy. WHY DIDN'T SPARTA? (NJHerald 5/7/08)

-WHY didthe Township Council complain about spending $17,000 for a public referendum, and one month later pass an ordinance giving themselves--the non-union municipal workforce--a salary increase of $355,000? Paid for, compliments of us, the taxpayers! (TC 2008 Budget Message)

-WHY is it, that when THREE Councilmen asked Manager Underhill on October 9, 2007 for a statistical report showing numbers and response times of our Police Department, he responded "That is more information than should be made privy to the public!" (This information is NOT available in the Town Council minutes--you'll have to get the CD and listen to the unedited text). Our Police Dept. is some 40 strong, and WE pay for their Police Academy training, their uniforms, their vests, their guns, their cars and accompanying equipment, and some very nice salaries and benefits, too. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!!! By the way--in the February 13, 2007 Town Council minutes, Chief Reigstad told the Council that the average response time was, at that time, SEVEN MINUTES. Why is it a big secret, some eight months and two more policemen later?

-WHY is it that Councilman Brady in November of 2006 (when they were deciding to merge our health department with that of the County) stated that a lot of people felt that the Town's ability to communicate was lacking and that people wanted to be more involved. He stated at that time that he "saw it as the community giving ideas to the governing body." We're STILL trying to communicate--and they're STILL not listening!!! (TC minutes 11/21/06)

-WHY is it that on November 21, 2006 Mayor Goldberg specifically said that "because of the recently approved school referendum, the Council had to be careful about spending more taxpayers dollars on expensive projects," and then went on to purchase White Lake for $1.45 million, put another $1 million into its "phase I" updates, and purchase the Limecrest Quarry for yet another $2.45 million (PLUS lawsuit)--just months before the tax bill for that new high school addition is put onto our tax bills?

-WHY when as Mayor, Goldberg proposed using the Township website to communicate with the people via a "Mayor's Corner"--that all the Township Council agreed that the column would be informational only, and would NOT be used for political purposes. (See TC minutes 11/21/06) Yet, our current Mayor Spekhardt used it for exactly that purpose! Township website--oh, no--they've taken it off the website!!

-WHY is it, that during the break in the garbage meeting on December 1st at the High School, Deputy Mayor Brady can be heard telling someone in the background that "This may have been a mistake; it may get them better organized." This discussion has also been "cleansed" from the Town Council minutes, so please, do get the CD--and listen to it yourself unless the official copy gets somehow 'damaged.' But we have one!

-WHY did the council raise the tax cap from 2.5% (allowed by law) to 3.5% by approving an ordinance that states "The township council hereby determines that a 1.0% increase in the budget for said year, amounting to $135,458.37 in excess of the increase in final appropriation otherwise permitted by the Local Government Cap Law." The answer might be, so they could up the property tax increase to 7% this year! (Sparta Independent 4/19/07)

-WHY does the 2008 budget utilize 100% of the available fund balance--meaning that there could be a cash flow difficulty in July? Perhaps we've purchased too much land this year? (Sparta Independent 4/10/08)

-WHY when considering a merger with the county's health department, did one woman feel she had to comment to the council "Are you (council members) really hearing us out here? I feel you're just looking at me and saying 'Okay lady, go away, the vote is already settled.'" (Sparta Indpendent 1/25/07)

-WHY was that same feeling re-iterated at the garbage proposal discussion, on December 1, 2007, when another woman asked the Council if their assertions that they definitely had NOT made up their minds yet were actually true, then WHY was there a police presence in the room--for the first time ever? Not in TC minutes--you'll have to hear it on the CD for yourself!

-WHY would we need to build a community center at all, when Dr. Morton himself said that the new high school would become a "true community center," with spaces for community groups and events." (Star Ledger 9/17/06)

-WHY did our Township Council vote to close the Township's Health Department to save between $7 and $9 a year in property taxes-- yet supported the synthetic turf proposal at the high school, which would raise our property taxes $27 a year (for a $300,000 home)? (Sparta Independent 5/4/06)

-WHY according to Ralph D'Aries, did Manager Underhill ORDER Mr. D'Aries NOT to speak at an open town council meeting? Certainly, he had the right to address the public! (TC minutes 1/9/07)

-WHY is it, that when Mayor Goldberg addressed the issue of opinion polls, he stated that ANY kind of survey needed to have AT LEAST 1,000 replies for it to be useful to the Council. (TC minutes 2/13/07) But, when the secret garbage survey was all tolled, there were fewer than 900 votes to be counted, and that was considered a valid study? (TC minutes 11/8/07)

-WHY is it, that if you go back into the Township Council minutes to October 9, 2007, you can see where Henry Underhill had already gotten two garbage bids, and he proposed that it would cost a flat $215 per house, and he anticipated "no more than $10 in administration costs (per house)! The administration costs are already up 150%--currently standing at $25 per household. That's almost $100,000 extra profit yearly!!

-WHY did the Mayor and ONLY two Councilmen meet at 7 o’clock in the morning at Town Hall on Tuesday 11/13/07 and approve over $4 MILLION worth of expenditures? Where was the public oversight? (TC Minutes 11/13/07 pg.1)

-WHY can’t we get a thorough accounting of the EXACT price that WE PAID for our new Municipal Building? Mayor Spekhardt asked for a price at the Council Meeting of 10/09/07, but the matter was never mentioned in public again. A subsequent OPRA request was submitted, and Denied by the Township clerk. We have a right to know! (TC Minutes 10/9/07 pg.12)

-WHY did the Township remove the original garbage ordinance from its "Recent Township Ordinances" page, and replace it with their own news letter interpretation (which had already been mailed, at our expense, to every "Postal Patron" in Sparta on 12/20/07)? We should be able to read the ordinance ourselves, as it is written. (Removed the week of 3/11/08)

-WHY does the Township have a "Recent Township Ordinances" page showing thirty (30) new ordinances in 2007, when we, the taxpayers, can only access seventeen (17) of them? Why can’t we view the other thirteen (13)? (Township web page)

-WHY did Judge Bozonelis the highest Judge in Sussex/Morris County have to admonish Sparta for not complying with the Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act? This is OUR town, and we have a right to know everything that’s happening in it! (NJ Herald 3/6/08)

-WHY is it that Sparta Township bought 172 acres of Limecrest Quarry, but when you add up only the Blocks and Lots in Sparta that were purchased, the acreage is closer to 205 acres? Not including the parcel in Lafayette which will bring the acreage even higher. Perhaps a little more time should have been spent doing their due diligence before entangling us in this legal nightmare?(Purchase Agreement Dated 8/28/07)

-WHY doesn’t Sparta Township ask for or accept any input regarding the outrageous spending going on here in our Town? Why aren’t they required to go to a public referendum before spending such large amounts of OUR money? (Nj Herald 5/7/06 & 6/11/06)

-WHY did Sparta start doing its own financial audits? Wouldn’t it be smarter to have someone outside the organization checking into its accounting practices? (TC Minutes 4/24/07 pg.7 & auditors letter 6/15/07)

-WHY is it that while the Council was still debating whether or not to buy, or rent a pump for Sparta to have in case of emergency, that the Township Council removed $280,000 from OUR General Capital Surplus Fund for this purpose. But, when it was decided NOT to buy the pump, that only $15,000 was returned to the Fund? Where is the other $265,000? (TC Minutes 8/28/07 pg.10)

-WHY is it that on June 26, 2007, Mayor Goldberg received 150 signed petitions from the residents of Sparta Commons regarding their inordinately high sewerage bills to find their plea fell on deaf ears? If those who use the White Deer Sewage System pay ONLY for how much they use, WHY are the people of Sparta Commons (and Main Street, and Glen Road, and Woodport Road, and Round top, and Sparta Ave., and Newton-Sparta Road) charged $306 per EDU (that being a 3 bedroom home), per 90 day cycle, assessed at 250 gallons a day? That comes to OVER $1220 yearly! (TC Minutes 6/26/07 pg.9)

-WHY are our Township leaders deciding what to do with the old Firehouses? Should we sell, or rent, or use them for a community/teen center? We want some input! (TC Minutes 10/9/07 pg.4&5, 11/8/07 pg.3)

-WHY is it that Township Manager Henry Underhill instructed the Fields Use Task Force to look at building a synthetic turf field in Station Park, and leasing it to the BOE? The answer seems to be that "the BOE could then avoid a referendum and capital project, and vote on this lease as a line item in its annual budget!" If we give Sparta the tax dollars to put this turf in, who is going to pay the BOE to pay the lease? WHY shouldn’t the citizens get to decide if they want to spend this money once, twice, or NOT AT ALL! (BOE Newsletter 10/07 & TC Minutes 12/11/07 pg.1)

-WHY has the Township Council invoked the Open Public Meetings Act in 24 of the last 26 Council meetings–thus excluding the public from any and all discussion–stating that the "subject matter will be made public when deemed appropriate." WHEN will it be appropriate? Who decides WHEN we’ll be told how much money we just spent for another land purchase? We want to have these records be made public! (TC Minutes between 10/10/06 & 9/25/07)

-WHY is it that--when Sparta provided the animal control services for Ogdensburg, Fredon and Hardyston, as well as for ourselves–that WE were the only ones who ended up with a 100% increase in our cat and dog licensing fees? Isn’t that inequitable? (TC Minutes 2/27/07 pg.4)

-WHY is it that, after we Americans fought so long and hard for our civil liberties, that the Police were summoned, and hassled both petitioners and those just handing out informational flyers–when it is a right granted to us under the First Amendment? This freedom of speech is not a new idea–we’ve have had these rights since 1791! (US Bill of Rights)

-WHY would one not think that if Sparta Township is able to increase the water Utility fees from $3.50 per thousand gallons to $4.40 per thousand gallons a 25% increase in March of 2007 (PLUS their hefty quarterly service charge) in one stroke of the pen– that they won’t do the same to the price of a Garbage Utility in the future?(TC Minutes 3/27/07 pg.5, New Ordinance passed 3/27/07)

-WHY is it that even when you go to the official minutes of the Township Council, that the ordinances are so sketchy that you’re not really sure what they’re talking about? As in, "an ordinance to amend Chapter 7, traffic?" Or, an ordinance pertaining to Block___ and Lot___? One motions, another seconds, and voila! It’s another new ordinance perpetrated upon us (and right in front of us)! WHY don’t we have LIVE streaming video online, that we can watch from our homes and know what’s going on in our own local government? Wasn’t that another campaign promise from back in 2006?(NJ Herald 6/11/06)

-WHY are we expected to fork up another $169,000 for a grandiose "People’s Plaza" in front of the Municipal Building? The stairs, lighting, and asphalt should all have been factored into the grand total price of a new town hall. Are they hoping to address the people from up on high?(TC Minutes 12/11/07 pg.3&4)

-WHY is the Township Council passing an ordinance with a minimum range for salaries for non-union employess in Sparta? When the post of Township Manager BEGINNING at $115,800 (without benefits added)–it is cause for alarm. Hopatcong just hired a Township Administrator–for $95,000. Why would we offer to pay $20,800 more than what we had to for competent help?(New Ordinance passed 4/8/08)

-WHY is the Township Council now spending another $1 million for upgrades to White Lake, after just having spent $1.45 million to purchase it? WHY are they planning on building a stadium complex to the tune of $1-2 million and a 15,000 square foot building to house P.A.L. gyms, community center, kitchen, and storage space–all at Station Park (isn’t that where the toxic plume is)? – all WITHOUT our approval? (TC Minutes 7/11/07 pg.2, 11/8/07 pg.4, 11/27/07 pg.8, 12/11/07 pg. 1, 1/8/08 pg. 2&3)

-WHY should we spend $4,000 to buy two bicycles for two intermittent policemen to peddle around town? If the idea was to interact with the citizens, wouldn't it be better if they walked, instead of whizzed by on bike? It sure would cost less, too! (TC Minutes 2/26/08 pg.5)

-WHY would we want to spend thousands of dollars for our own cable TV channel, when all we really want is to be able to watch Township Coucil meetings two times a month? (TC Minutes 3/25/08)

CONTRIBUTIONS

CONTRIBUTIONS

Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition, Recall Petition

If you would like to contribute funds to aid in the Recall of Brian Brady, Michael Spekhardt and Manny Goldberg, you can mail a check for one; two or all three of the Recall officials.

Each check must be made out separately to the committee for the person you would like to Recall. (Brian Brady, Michael Spekhardt and Manny Goldberg). All checks can be mailed in the same envelope at the same time.

At this time to contribute funds to the Committee to Recall Brian Brady or Committee to Recall Michael Spekhardt or Committee to Recall Manny Goldberg, please make checks payable to a committee in the amount of: $300 or LESS.
We will not accept checks over the $301 threshold at this time.

Any and all contributions would be gratefully appreciated.

TO RECALL BRIAN BRADY
Committee to recall Brian Brady

TO RECALL MICHAEL SPEKHARDT
Committee to recall Michael Spekhardt

TO RECALL MANNY GOLDBERG
Committee to recall Manny Goldberg



Paid for by:
Committee to recall Brian Brady

Paid for by:
Committee to recall Michael Spekhardt

Paid for by:
Committee to recall Manny Goldberg

Goldberg Gets Reinbursed for Signs

Sparta Police Report-Stop and Shop Incident

Goldberg’s broken campaign promises

February 24, 2008

Letter to the editor:

As reported by the Star Ledger, Sparta's average property taxes have gone up over 47% since the year 2000. The average house is currently paying $8,704 a year. Of course, in 2000 we didn't have the new $5.2 (or is that $6.5?) million Municipal Building, or the new $3.3 million firehouse (which we paid for, but as citizens, cannot rent the great room for parties); nor did we own the ($2.5 million) quarry. Although we think the $73 million price tag is outrageous, at least we had a proper vote on the Sparta High School renovations--which we have yet to pay for!

Councilman Goldberg's platform when running for office was that "ANY capital expenditure costing in excess of $1 million (such as our $4.5 million garbage proposal) should be decided by the citizens through a referendum." Why, then, did he vote to accept the garbage ordinance, after hearing hours of public outcry? All we wanted was what he told us he wanted, too! We also wonder whatever happened to the $4 million budget surplus and reserve that Mr. Goldberg campaigned to be able to use to lower the budget, and "provide taxpayers with a real municipal tax break?" Where did that money go? Mr. Goldberg told us that at the top of his list of things he wanted for Sparta was a second supermarket. Perhaps I've misunderstood, but I thought the sewers had to be put in on the 517 Bypass before any development could take place there. As far as I can see, there's been no progress on that front for two years now.

In the Budget Message of April 23, 2007, we noted the year's budget for the Health Department--for three months only--represents a reduction of $422,300 from our overall yearly budget. And yet, Mr. Goldberg (as reported in the June 28, 2007 NJ Herald) has informed us that "...the anticipated surplus had disappeared!" The then Mayor Goldberg had asked for the ability to opt-out of the county-wide health department if it didn't work out very well--meaning cost effective? Deputy Mayor Spekhardt suggested he'd like to see an 18 month trial period. Was an opt-out clause actually included in that transaction?

Another great idea was Mr. Goldberg's suggestion that ME3TV.com should carry live streamed video of township meetings on the internet. Then, we would ALL be able to know what's going on at our Municipal Building--especially since it cannot seat as many Sparta residents as the old building did! Great planning, there!! Now--where can I find that streaming video?

Speaking of the new Municipal Building--does anyone else feel put off by the fact that we have to use the back service door to get in, and that we--the owners--are unable to access the front door of our brand-new $5 (or $6.5) million edifice? The only parking on the front entrance level is "Employee Parking Only." Why must we pay yet another $169,000 for lighting, repaving the parking lot, and a staircase from the parking level? Shouldn't that have been included in the original bid, and cost of erecting the building in the first place? Dare we ask exactly how much will we end up paying for some evergreens and a row of petunias lining the front walkway?

Mr. Goldberg, we voted you in because we felt that your campaign stood for fiscal conservation and accountability. We believed you. We feel betrayed...

Anne and Alan Simkatis, Sparta

2 more recall notices

March 6, 2008

By SETH AUGENSTEIN

SPARTA — every member of the township council could face the voters in 2008 — either through recall or reelection.

Councilman Manny Goldberg is the latest official to be targeted by a notice of intention to organize a recall petition. Township Clerk Miriam Tower officially approved the notice on Wednesday which was delivered the day before by a committee of five residents.

Mayor Michael Spekhardt was already targeted for recall by a notice of intention filed on Feb. 20.

A notice of intention to recall Councilman Brian Brady was also submitted to Tower's office Wednesday, but the office had not approved it by the end of the business day.

The terms of the two remaining council members will be up for grabs in the June 3 election. If the three officials targeted by the petition efforts face a recall election in the fall, then every member of the council must defend his seat in 2008.

Goldberg released a statement echoing Spekhardt's response to the notice last week. He blamed Jesse Wolosky, the petition's organizer, with deliberately masking the real issue surrounding the referendum on mandatory garbage collection next Tuesday.

"I believe that the citizens of Sparta will see through the veneer of this individual as well as his petition and decide accordingly. I am proud to stand alongside our mayor on this (garbage) referendum issue... Mr. Wolosky's effort to steal the soul of this town will disappear once this referendum passes," he said.

"I would agree with that," said Spekhardt. "It's just flat-out wrong. Once again, I think it's a shame that this hypocritical behavior continues. They're literally trying to undo a democratic process."

Several previous notices targeting Spekhardt, Goldberg and Brady had been submitted to Tower's office over the last several weeks, but all were denied because of what the clerk deemed to be paperwork errors. The latest notices listed different members of the committees to recall the officials and were determined to be legal.

The notices to recall Goldberg and Spekhardt are only the beginning of the process. Next a form of the petition must be submitted to the clerk's office for approval. After that, 3,125 signatures must be collected from registered voters — or 25 percent of the 12,497-person turnout of the last general election in November. If the notice of intention to recall Brady is also approved by Tower, then the process will be the same for his potential recall.

The recall process for the three officials has been linked by many in the town to the controversial December vote to establish a mandatory garbage collection in the township. The utility would save money for a majority of Sparta residents, but would cost a minority more annually for a mandatory service, according to officials. Spekhardt, Goldberg and Brady voted to establish the utility and did so despite some public threats that they would be recalled. The two votes against the garbage utility came from councilmen Scott Seelagy and Jerry Murphy. They have not faced a recall effort, but their terms end in June.

Tower said it was likely that a special election would happen in September or October. However, she said there could be one, two or even three separate special elections to recall the various officials, depending upon the timing and decision making process of the recall committees.

Tower estimates that each special election costs the township $16,000.

Wolosky could not be reached for comment.