Low Voter Turnout Falls Short of Quorum, Allowing Town Worker Pay Raises to Stand-August 14, 1990

Town workers will see fatter paychecks because of yesterday’s small voter turnout on a referendum calling for the rejection of raises approved by town meeting. Under statutory requirements, at least 20 percent of the town’s registered voters—equaling 3,121 ballots—had to vote “no” in yesterday’s special election for the results to be binding and the pay raises overturned. However, only 12 percent of the electorate cast opposing votes, marking Norwood’s first referendum in more than a decade.

While the tally showed 1,907 votes against the raises and 1,027 votes in favor of them—an outcome that would have sufficed to defeat the measures in a standard election—special referendum rules demand a strict minimum participation threshold. “The system worked,” said Norwood Patrolman Larry Gamel, president of the local police union. “If there were such strong feelings against these raises, a measly 20 percent could have turned out to vote.” Had the petition succeeded, police, fire, and public works unions were prepared to pursue legal action to protect the 6 percent pay raises, which had been overwhelmingly approved by town meeting delegates in June and affected more than 200 municipal employees.

Thomas DiFrancia, who spearheaded the petition drive against the raises, refused to concede defeat after results were posted at Norwood Town Hall. “We didn’t lose,” DiFrancia insisted, waving his cane for emphasis. “The people voted overwhelmingly against the pay raises. The mandate is clear.” DiFrancia and his supporters argued that the 6 percent hikes were extravagant. Conversely, labor representatives defended the compensation as fair, pointing out that Norwood enjoyed strong fiscal health with more than $3 million in free cash reserves. “If a private company is doing well and makes a profit, employees get a raise,” noted Marty Collins, president of the local firefighters’ union. “Well, the town of Norwood is making a profit and these raises are not going to affect taxes.”

Despite the town’s positive financial standing, several residents who cast ballots at the Balch School polling station expressed anxiety over broader economic trends. “Six percent is too much,” one District 6 voter remarked. “How can we afford that with the times getting so tight?” Collins countered that voters were conflating statewide economic stagnation with local budgets, adding, “It’s very difficult to be a public employee these days… They think we’re bums.”

Although the requisite 20 percent quorum was not met—yielding an overall turnout of roughly 18 percent compared to the typical 28 percent for municipal elections—poll workers noted that participating voters were predominantly senior citizens. DiFrancia blamed the depressed summer turnout on the Selectmen for scheduling the election during vacation season, asserting that holding it during the fall primaries would have yielded a decisive defeat. Town Clerk Robert Thornton estimated that the special election cost the town between $15,000 and $20,000.

Relieved police officers and firefighters directed sharp criticism at DiFrancia, alleging he utilized the referendum to advance a personal vendetta against Town Manager John Carroll, who served as the town’s chief negotiator during the talks. Highlighting the municipal expense, Gamel and Collins called on DiFrancia, along with finance commissioner John Hayes and town meeting member Stanley Wasil, to resign their seats. Wasil dismissed the demand, stating the experience only strengthened his resolve to scrutinize future municipal budgets.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger