Charges Against The Selectmen, General Manager Detailed-This Day In Norwood History-October 7, 1938

Charges Against The Selectmen

“That while acting as said selectman he has failed to perform his duties as a selectman in a proper manner and for the best interests of the town of Norwood. He has in bad faith voted to award contracts to persons who are not the lowest bidders and has unlawfully discriminated against responsible bidders for said contracts to the detriment of the town of Norwood. That he has failed to perform the duties of his office in a faithful and impartial manner and has allowed his official acts to be influenced and controlled by selfish motives and personal prejudice.

“That he has interfered with a certain town official, namely William C. Kendrick, general manager of the town of Norwood, in the proper performance of his duties and has falsely accused said manager of lack of cooperation and in an attempt to intimidate, coerce and control said manager threatened to institute proceedings for dismissal of said .^neral manager which said act has not been done in good faith as for the best interests of the town of Norwood, Mass. The same being actuated by ill will, prejudice and personal animosity toward said general manager.”

Charges Against The Manager

Written Statement Removing William C. Kendrick from the office of General Manager of the Town of Norwood, Mass.

William C. Kendrick is hereby removed from the office of General Manager of the Town of Norwood, Massachusetts, for the following reasons, namely:
(1) For the best interests of the Town.
(2) Because said General Manager has failed to perform the duties of his office in a disinterested manner and with reasonable competency.
(3) Because said General Manager has refused and failed to co-operate in a consistent, unprejudiced, and reasonable manner with the board of Selectmen and the individual members there of in the exercise of their official powers and the performance of their official duties.
(4) Because said General Manager has refused and failed to co-operate in a consistent, unprejudiced, and reasonable manner with the Planning Board and the individual members thereof, in the exercise of their official powers and the performance of their official duties.
(5) Because said General Manager has refused and failed to co-operate in a consistent, unprejudiced, and reasonable manner with certain officials of the Fire Department, particularly in connection with the purchase of equipment and supplies required and requisitioned by said Department.
(6) Because said General Manager has neglected and failed to comply with the provisions of Section 3 of Article XI of the By-Laws of the Town in that on divers occasions where the estimated amount of a proposed contract exceeded five hundred dollars, he neglected and failed to advertise for proposals as provided therein.
(7) Because said General Manager has neglected and failed to comply with the provisions of Section 3 of Article XI of the By-Laws of the Town in that on divers occasions where a reasonable, fair and disinterested estimate of a proposed contract would have exceeded five hundred dollars, he neglected and failed to advertise for proposals as provided therein.
(8) Because said General Manager has neglected and failed to comply with the provisions of Section 3 of Article XI of the By-Laws of the Town in that on divers occasions, in estimating the cost of a proposed contract, he unreasonably and improperly split said work into two or more contracts with the object and result of evading the provisions of said Section as to advertising for proposals as therein provided.
(9) Because said General Manager has neglected and failed to comply with the provisions of Section 3 of Article XI of the By-Laws of the Town in that on divers occasions where practicable he neglected and refused to secure reasonable competition in awarding contracts for less than five hundred dollars.
(10) Because said general Manager has neglected and failed to comply with the provisions of Section 4 of Article XI of the By-Laws of the Town in that on divers occasions he neglected and failed, in contracts exceeding one thousand dollars, to obtain suitable bond for the performance of the same or a deposit of money or security to the amount of such bond.
(11) Because, in violation of his official duties and in disregard of the express vote of the Selectmen, the General Manager has refused to permit the Selectmen and Special Counsel engaged by them to inspect and examine the books, papers and records, of the Town in his custody for the purpose. of obtaining information required by them in the investigation of the conduct of the office of the General Manager.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)