Seventy-nine Hopkinton residents have signed a petition asking for the resignation of Board of Selectmen Chairman Scott Flood.

It is the third petition that has been filed with the town with the request, and Flood said he believes the disagreement centers on his desire to lower the budget.

“I think I’ve always been respectful. You have to do what the board feels is in the best interest in the town,” said Flood. “It is a result of two special interest groups in town objecting to the fact that I’m trying to cut costs.”

Some residents have expressed disagreement with Flood in the past regarding his stance on the Slusser Senior Center.

Flood has previously said that selectmen should consider the idea of making the facility a community building.

The petition says Flood has not listened to the voice of the town.

“He has not followed the will of the people, but used his position for his own agenda,” the petition reads. “In these trying times, the Town needs a leader to put forth every effort to unite the voters and the employees in a common purpose, not to divide. We realize there is not a legal course of action to achieve this, but we hope you will take the best interest of the Town to heart and comply.”

When asked if he felt the frustration of some residents is a result of frustration with the current state of the economy, Flood said he thought it was more than that. “It’s not just frustration, it’s survival,” said Flood. “I know a family where both parents have lost their jobs, and they have no income. I know a lot of people whose houses have been foreclosed on. We’re past frustrated. This is serious survival mode for people.”

Flood also said financial times will get more difficult in the upcoming years for Hopkinton residents with revenues down and the proposed school budget coming in with an approximately $850,000 increase compared to last year.

“There’s no question that I feel this next year will be even worse economically than this year,” said Flood. “If you assume revenue being equal, it’ll be about a $1.10 increase (per $1,000). Couple that with expecting the revenue going down and the reassessment will be done in December, we could end up with an increase of almost $2 (on the tax bill) in the fall.”