Staff Writer

In the wake of an arrest, several Arundel residents have gathered more than 75 signatures needed to get a petition to recall three selectmen, including one recently implicated in a criminal enterprise, according to Town Manager John Fraser.

Byron Kindley was arrested June 11, and charged with exchanging stolen goods for drugs, according to York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette.

More than 20 residents who attended the selectmen’s meeting Monday night were split over how the board should handle Kindley’s arrest.

“Everyone in America is innocent until proven guilty. As far as I’m concerned the jury is still out on Byron,” said Diane Robbins, an Arundel resident. “I want no part of a town that runs somebody out of office only to find out three or four months later they were innocent.”

That sentiment was not shared by all in the room.

“This issue has put this town in bad light. I personally would like to see the four selectmen take a stance,” said Daren Keller, who is also organizing the recall effort and was critical of the selectmen before the arrest.

Keller said he wanted selectmen to recommend Kindley resign from the board.

Kindley, 63, was arrested at 5 a.m. at the Valero gas station he owns on Route 111 in Arundel.

He was charged with receiving stolen property, trafficking and possession of scheduled class W drugs, Vicodin.

Ouellette said Kindley was charged with trafficking because he allegedly paid for stolen goods with drugs and cash. Once in possession of the stolen goods, Ouellette said the suspect sold the items at the gas station.

Kindley was booked at the York County Jail and released on $1,500 bail.

Tina Gagne, who Ouellette said is Kindley’s girlfriend, was arrested on felony drug trafficking.

Ouellette would not say how Kindley allegedly obtained the drugs.

Kindley resides on the second floor of the building that houses the gas station’s office and convenience store.

In a Dec. 19 interview with the Post about the gas station, where Kindley bought gold and operated a game inspection station, Kindley said, “You have to do whatever you can to bring additional customers coming into the store.”

Ouellette said police found computer equipment, jewelry, old coins, video games, iPods and other electronic gear inside the station allegedly linked to burglaries across York County and into New Hampshire.

“The electronics recovered are estimated at $15,000 currently. Besides that we do know other items allegedly went through the establishment,” Ouellette said.

Ouellette said it was very early in the investigation but if convicted, Kindley could face up to 10 years in jail.

Arundel Selectmen Chairman Dana Peck said Kindley will be allowed to continue serving on the board.

According to Peck, Kindley could be removed from office if he is convicted of a crime that interferes with his duties serving on the board or if residents vote to recall his election.

“Right now he’s innocent until proven guilty,” Peck said.

Kindley is one of the selectman listed on the recall petition that included Peck and Mark Paulin, neither of whom have been implicated in Kindley’s alleged illegal activities.

Peck was re-elected to his seat June 8, garnering one less vote than Velma Jones Hayes, also an incumbent. Peck and Hayes were the only names on the ballot for two seats, meaning both candidates effectively ran unopposed.

“We have a code of ethics and I have to sit there and take all of it. I can’t respond to it. (Keller) has all the cards and I just have to sit there and take it. They don’t have all the facts,” Peck said.

Peck said as selectmen, the board is pretty much “handcuffed” to obey the code but he would not mention any names when discussing what he felt was being wrongly discussed.

“If Daren thinks a recall will be fruitful, I think it will be a big distraction to the town but I’ll support his right to have a recall. I’ll respond by getting out all my supporters to get re-elected, if that’s what the process is,” Peck said.

Keller said Peck’s name was included on the petition even though he was just re-elected because in his opinion many residents felt too intimidated by his presence to run against him. He said all three selectmen make it virtually impossible for residents to speak during town meetings.

Keller said he hoped by recalling Peck and the other two selectman seats, the homeowners in Arundel would have more of a say in the towns politics.

Some of the residents at Monday night’s meeting said they are not happy with the way the three selectmen in question are representing the town.

Fraser said the residents needed 147 signatures to get a question forcing the selectmen’s removal on a special town ballot. One petition will be at town hall and other copies of the petition are being circulated throughout the town.

The petitions are valid for 30 days.

The petitions will be typed individually so if one selectmen does not receive the amount of signatures needed, they will not have to be on the recall ballot.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.