Raymond's Big Decision: Should Board Members Stay or Go?

In Raymond, a heated debate is happening. People are divided over whether two Select Board members, Denis Morse and Kaela Gonzalez, should keep their jobs. A vote is set for Tuesday to decide this. The issue started months ago when former town manager Joseph Crocker quit. Some say Morse and Gonzalez made the work environment tough, leading to Crocker's resignation. Supporters of the recall say Morse and Gonzalez created a divided town. They claim the board members talked badly about employees, controlled too much, and didn't follow the proper steps. But others disagree. They think the recall vote is unfair and might not even be legal. At a public hearing, Teresa Sadak, who is leading the recall, made serious accusations. She said the board members talked about employees behind their backs and broke the town's rules. She also mentioned that before Crocker left, the board was thinking about bringing in someone to help him, which she saw as a lack of trust in Crocker.Morse and Gonzalez defended themselves. Morse said he was under a lot of pressure when Crocker was in charge. Gonzalez said she was honored to be elected and wanted to do more for the town, but she would accept the vote's outcome. A lawyer, Scott Dolan, argued that the recall might not be legal. He said state laws usually require a crime to be committed before a recall can happen. However, Raymond's recall rules don't clearly state this. Dolan pointed to a case in Limerick where a recall was blocked for similar reasons. The vote will take place at Jordan Small Middle School gym on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Polls open at 7 a. m. and close at 8 p. m. This is a big moment for Raymond, and everyone is watching to see what happens.