WESTMINSTER : Recall Petitions Being Circulated

Amid growing signs of a bitter fight, the effort to recall Mayor Charles V. Smith and three other members of the City Council officially starts today.

Nearly a month after serving the council members with the recall notice, supporters of the Westminster Firefighters Assn. will begin gathering the 7,600 signatures required to force a recall election.

Recall proponents have 120 days to gather the signatures, according to City Clerk Mary Lou Morey. If they succeed, the council has 14 days to set a recall election, she said.

In addition to Smith, the recall targets are council members Craig Schweisinger, Charmayne S. Bohman and Tony Lam. The fifth member of the council, Frank Fry Jr., is not included in the recall drive.

The recall stems from the council decision last month to lay off five firefighters and put one firetruck out of service as part of the reorganization of the Fire Department. Officials said the reorganization was necessary to stop increasing overtime costs.

The council’s action was also part of a citywide effort to reduce expenses as sales tax revenue continues to decline because of the poor economy and state budget cuts, officials said.

In addition, officials said that under the Fire Department’s restructuring, all of the city’s fire stations would have paramedic teams. Previously, one fire station did not have one.

The firefighters said the layoffs will result in reduced fire services to the community.

Rebecca Danna, 25, one of the leaders of the recall drive, said that teams at designated areas in the city will start gathering the signatures. She said she is confident they will get the signatures in less than 120 days.

“Everyday, we’ll be out there,” said Danna, a mother of three, who said she’s concerned the layoffs will put the community in danger.

But Earl French, who opposes the recall, said that he doubts enough signatures will be gathered to force an election.

“We cannot afford a recall at this time,” said French, 69, who headed a citizen panel that recommended the citywide cuts in July. “This will cost a lot of taxpayers’ money.”