SUPERIOR — Residents proposing a recall of three trustees have decided to put the effort on hold.

A petition to recall Mayor Pro-tem Lisa Skumatz, Eric Rosenfeld and Dana D’Souza has been filed with the town clerk. But Grant Jacobs, one of three residents behind the recall effort, said the group doesn’t plan to go forward with collecting signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

He said two of the trustees named, Rosenfeld and D’Souza, “have expressed a willingness to work with us and to pay closer attention to the citizens when they come to meetings.

“We’re going to give them time to remedy things on their own,” he said.

He said the recall was proposed because recent controversial decisions, including contracting with a single trash hauler for non-Rock Creek residents and hiring a code enforcement officer, showed a change is needed.

Trustees D’Souza and Rosenfeld have countered that the town’s residents generally are happy with the board’s decisions, with the trash contract significantly reducing costs for most residents.

“The claims against the trustees are pretty vague,” Rosenfeld said. “A recall is for egregious crimes or actions. There just hasn’t been really good rationale.”

He said he wasn’t at the meeting when the code enforcement officer was approved, while Skumatz voted “no.” He said he also previously voiced opposition to hiring a code enforcement officer without first reviewing the codes.

“I stand on my record,” he said. “This is a divisive issue. I’m not going to change how I represent the town. If any resident wants to complain to me, I’ll listen.”

The recall proposal is generating a heated discussion on the town’s listserv, with several people saying it would be a waste of time and money.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to recall the government every time someone disagrees with decisions the government makes,” said resident James MacInnis. “The cost of a recall is too high, the benefit too small.”

Others questioned the motives of those pushing the recall. Along with Jacobs, the other two residents participating in the recall effort are George Kupfner Jr. and Steve Smith.

Jacobs ran unsuccessfully for the town board in 2006 against the three trustees named in the recall. Kupfner, who owns Superior Maintenance, lost his snow removal contract with the town earlier this year.

Jacobs countered that the recall effort wasn’t personal.

“The whole idea was not to be vindictive in any way,” Jacobs said. “We were trying to express our dissatisfaction with the way the town was being run. The petition has at least brought these issues to the forefront.”