The $166 million St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union,which last month called off a merger bid by anotherOregon credit union following member objections, has set Sept. 4 asthe date for a special meeting on a recall petition for fiveboard members.

The newly installed president/CEO of St. Helens, Brooke Van Vleet called the recall effort “disappointing,baseless and disruptive.”

“We respect the right of members to voice their opinions throughthis process,” Van Vleet said Monday, but said the board “stands byits decisions,” including canceling the planned merger with the$134 million Wauna FCU of Clatskanie, which had been in the works forseveral months.

Some St. Helens members had also objected to the dismissal oflong-time CEO Jeff Schwarz in May.

In July, the St. Helens board dropped the merger proposal withWauna and hired Van Vleet, a former top exec at First Tech ofBeaverton, Ore., prior to its 2011 merger with Addison Avenue FCUof Palo Alto, Calif. forming the $5.4 billion First Tech FCU.

In a statement, Van Vleet called the recall petition for thefive directors – Chair Lea Chitwood, Treasurer Michael Hafeman,Richard Louie Marty Borrevik and David Graham an “impulsive” actionwith its “intent to be disruptive.”

Vice Chair Tom Tussing and Michael Ismert were not targeted bythe member group which collected a required 492 valid signatures.The credit union has 15,400 members.

“St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union has served localpeople in Columbia County since 1938,” said the Van Vleetstatement, adding that the “long-term success owes much to thestrength and commitment of our volunteer board members who givegenerously of their time and have a fiduciary responsibility tomake sound decisions.”

The recall effort began in June and the board received thesigned petitions on Aug. 7. They were then validated by Moss Adams,an independent auditing firm, Van Vleet said, and a special membersmeeting was called for Sept. 4.