• Barre Selectman Richard Jankauskas ousted in recall election

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Richard Jankauskas
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• By James F. Russell
  Correspondent

  
  Posted May. 17, 2016 at 9:44 PM
  Updated at 11:36 PM
  
  

  BARRE – Richard P. Jankauskas' stint of 10 consecutive years as a selectman ended unceremoniously on Tuesday when residents, by a 2-to-1 ratio, removed him from office in a recall election.

  With a third of the town’s registered voters going to the polls, 790 cast ballots to recall him, and 387 voted to keep him, according to unofficial results provided by the town clerk.

  A call placed to Mr. Jankauskas’ home after the results were posted was not returned.

  An organizer of the petition seeking the recall, Gregory P. O’Sullivan, said Mr. Jankauskas violated the public trust, interfered with public safety and damaged morale.

  “We removed him,” Mr. O’Sullivan also said in an interview Tuesday night. “We are happy that it went through, very happy.”

  Mr. O’Sullivan said many people in town are upset about the treatment of the fire chief, Joseph Rogowoski, whose contract was not renewed by selectmen. Mr. O’Sullivan has also said residents questioned the Board of Selectmen's decision not to renew the contract of Police Chief Erik J. Demetropoulos. Both contracts expire June 30.

  Mr. O’Sullivan said that at next month’s annual town meeting, there would be a warrant article asking voters to renew the fire chief’s contract for another year.

  He also said that in the coming days, the coalition plans to begin the process to recall Selectman Lief Ericson - because of his opposition to Chief Rogowski, Mr. O'Sullivan said.