DENMARK — Residents inched closer toward ousting two of three members of the Board of Selectmen, after garnering enough signatures for a recall vote.

Town Manager Daniel Merhalski, who previously said the effort to unseat selectmen is a coup to oust him, said Thursday morning that petitions to recall board Chairman Richard Mason Jr. and Beverly Caparco had enough signatures to trigger the vote. Each petition has 213 or 214 signatures, more than the 186 necessary, he said.

Mason and Caparco did not respond to an email seeking comment. 

Mason’s term expires in 2017; Caparco’s in 2016, according to the town website.

After acknowledging the petitions, selectmen at their May 27 meeting are expected approve a secret ballot election, after which they will have five days to schedule a vote.

Selectman Ed Enos, whose term expires in June, is not listed on either petition and is not seeking re-election. 

Petitioners contend selectmen ignored their wish to fire Town Manager Daniel Merhalski during an initial probationary period. They claim the board held an illegal executive session to discuss the issue, voted not to allow public comment about Merhalski’s actions as town manager and made errors and willful omissions drafting minutes of public meetings.

Merhalski previously said the controversy stems from the beginning of his tenure when he requested the code enforcement officer hold regular office hours. After a dispute, Merhalski said he jokingly referred to citizens questioning him about the incident as a “lynch mob.” 

In December, residents asked selectmen in a written document to fire Merhalski. According to meeting minutes, the town attorney advised selectmen they could take the document under consideration but were not bound to act on it.

Merhalski previously said selectmen advised residents it was looking into the issue, but was not required to take action. When selectmen didn’t, recall petitions were submitted to the town on April 7. 

If residents vote to recall the two selectmen, the town could be forced to seek a court order to conduct all but the most rudimentary business until the vacancies are filled, Merhalski said.

ccrosby@sunmediagroup.net