Barnstable County Report

To recall means more than remembering

Janet Joaquim once again facing a recall

Barnstable Town Council president Janet Joaquim is once again facing a recall effort by voters in her district, precinct 6 in Centerville. On Tuesday afternoon Mary Michael presented 66 signatures on a petition asking for a recall vote. 50 signatures are required.  On Monday Taryn Thoman had presented a petition but the town clerk was able to certify only 49 signatures. Also, comments were made by parties unknown to the effect that Ms. Thoman is not a voter in precinct 6 and therefore should not be leading the recall drive.

The grounds cited for the petition are Joaquim's alleged insulting words directed at citizens and voters

So, overnight Mary Michael gathered 66 signatures, all legible and presented them at the clerk's office just before the close of business.

The grounds cited for the petition are Joaquim's alleged insulting words directed at citizens and voters, her compromising the integrity of the Zoning Board of Appeals through the council's appointments process and her failure over her six years in office to honor her promise to voters to support a split tax rate.

Now the clerk must process the petition and if it is passed a second petition must be presented with ten percent of the registered voters in precinct six, estimated to be 250 signatures, in order to place the recall question on the ballot at the next town election. This is the second recall petition aimed at Joaquim within as many years.

Two years ago, in a hotly debated council action, Joaquim openly changed her position on the question of a split tax, voting against it. Two weeks ago the entire board of appeals resigned in protest over council interference in their business. A letter approved by all the resigning ZBA members was read into the record by Gail Nightingale during the last meeting of the ZBA in which the town council was named as the reason for the board's decision to resign.