Van Liew Tries to Recall Four Selectmen

Roland Van Liew last week took out affidavits to recall Selectmen George Dixon, Jon Kurland, Matt Hanson, and Pat Wojtas.

In a pages-long document, which can be read and downloaded in the upper right hand corner of this page, Van Liew makes allegations about each of the selectmen he is trying to recall. Van Liew asserts the selectmen did not vote in accordance to the best interests of the town and did nothing when they saw Town Manager Paul Cohen "act unlawfully."

Van Liew said Kurland "told voters not to exercise their voting rights" and "has done nothing to rectify Cohen's abuses of authority." Kurland calls the claims and his recall attempts "absurd."

Many of Van Liew's claims come from the controversy. Phil Eliopoulos purchased the land, which has a preservation restriction on it.  The restriction requires that any building on the property must be a barnlike structure and perserve the area's historic characteristics. Selectmen decided in August that Eliopoulos' plans conform to the restriction. Kurland was the only selectmen who disagreed.

Van Liew last fall also tried to because of their role in the controversial office building being erected behind the center fire station.

"As it pertains to me, he says I didn’t file a motion with the court (after the made in August). To be honest, (Van Liew's Attorney Richard) McClure called me after selectmen vote when I opposed 9 North Road. He asked me to file a motion, but I was in the minority [and] didn’t think it was appropriate," said Kurland.

"I was outvoted I am not aware of any sitation where a minority in a vote joins an existing lawsuit. I said if you can find a case that justifies me doing that, I'll think about it, and he never got back to me. He never found a case yet they're criticizing me because I didn’t do something that was totally inappropriate," said Kurland.

Kurland also maintains that as a selectmen he never told people not to exercise their right to vote. Kurland said he was not speaking as a selectman when he made those comments, but a private resident.

"I got up to speak as a citizen, saying the recall process with Planning Board members was totally inapropriate, these people didn’t do anything wrong, and it was my suggestion to, if you get the affidavits, to throw them away," he said.  "But as a selectman I did not say anything about that. I have the right to say what I want to say as a private citizen, just as Van Liew does."

 Kurland called Van Liew a bully. Van Liew is trying to discredit selectmen, he said.

"He wants to control the town and my job is to represent everybody in the town ... But I certainly am not going to bow down to Roland Van Liew ... or anything and do what he wants us to do."

 "I hope people see this guy for what he is. He wants to generate discontent. There is not one town rep or official I think he is in approval of," said Kurland.