Superior Court Judge Restarts Recall Clock

A Middlesex Superior Court Judge this afternoon ruled that the 14-day window for from 10 percent of the town's voters will start today. Van Liew is trying to

Richard McClure, Van Liew's attorney, brought the case to court in an effort to seek an injunction on the grounds that the 14-day time period should start when the lead petitioner receives the blank petitions on which to collect signatures, and not when the initial 25 signatures to start the recall process were turned in, which was Tuesday.

"(The judge) reset the clock today," said Town Manager Paul Cohen. "He also determined the town clerk’s preparation of recall blanks met the requirements for delivery, so she doesn’t have to do anything beyond that despite the assertion she had to deliver petitions to all the people who (initially) signed it."

 Cohen said McClure and Van Liew will stop by the town clerk's office before 5 p.m. to pick up the blanks and then they'll have their two weeks to collect signatures.

 "We disagree with the interpretation, but the judge made his ruling. It's not a good use of our resources to appeal it, we'll just let the process go forward," said Cohen.

If Van Liew can collect the necessary voter signatures, it will force a recall election.