KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A local business owner is calling for the resignation of Keene City Manager Elizabeth Ferland (formerly Dragon), organizing a rally this Saturday in Central Square that has stirred up heated debate in City Hall and across social media.

Dorrie Masten, who owns several businesses downtown and runs the Save the Square Facebook page, is leading the effort behind the rally, dubbed Stand Up for Keene. The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. this Saturday, April 26, and is expected to draw both supporters and critics of the city’s leadership.

Masten says the rally is a response to what she sees as a lack of transparency and fiscal responsibility in City Hall—particularly around the controversial downtown infrastructure project, which she argues is going to take much longer than the three-year goal, is costing taxpayers far too greatly and will harm local businesses.

“Transparency is key, and there is no transparency at City Hall right now,” Masten said in a recent interview with WKBK. “We’re pushing people out of the downtown for years, and they’re going to get used to other places. It will take years to recover.”

The City Council voted in January to postpone the start of the project by a year (it was originally set to start this summer), a decision bolstered by the response from several local business owners who attended the meeting to give them more time to prepare.

The Save the Square page, which started in opposition to proposed design changes to Central Square, now boasts 1.6 thousand followers and has become a hub for criticism of city policy, including the handling of former Fire Chief Donald Farquhar’s departure and the downtown construction plans slated to begin in 2026. Masten has expressed concern about rising costs in the millions that will contribute to damaging the local economy.

In response, Keene Mayor Jay Kahn issued a strong statement of support for Ferland on behalf of the City Council. “We understand that bullying and accusations over social media can be misleading and offensive,” the mayor wrote in an email to city employees. “We expect no less respect for the city manager, for whom we have the highest regard.”

City Manager Ferland, in a statement to My Keene Now, defended her leadership and addressed the allegations being made against her.

“While I respect the right to peacefully assemble,” she wrote, “Ms. Masten and former Chief Farquhar have made several serious allegations about me on social media that are simply untrue.” Ferland went on to say that she “welcomes accountability and constructive dialogue,” but called the ongoing public criticism “harmful to our community.”

“Leadership often requires making difficult decisions,” Ferland added. “I’ve spent 27 years serving New Hampshire communities, including over seven years in Keene. I remain committed to ethical, transparent, and effective city government.”