Manager Decision Delayed Following Proposal Made By Four Local Merchants-This Day In Norwood History-August 26, 1938

Selectman Mulch Agrees To Delay Action For Week

Four Business Men Ask For Study

Recognizing merit in a suggestion proffered by four local businessmen, John Welch, John Regan, Maurice Baker, and Jack McGarry, with respect to the situation involving the removal of the General Manager William C. Kendrick, Selectman John Mutch, whose indication of removal action last week precipitated a storm of protest, agreed to delay his decision and action on the matter until next Tuesday’s meeting of the Selectmen’s Board. The selectmen also agreed to meet without the clerk or manager on Thursday night to further discuss the matter.

John Welch, local newsdealer, as spokesman of the group who represented the businessmen is Norwood, explained to the Board that they were before them at interested taxpayers and not to take sides, and that they felt that what had happened was not to the best interests of the town. He suggested that the Board postpone action and consider a suggestion of appointing a committee of five to investigate the various departments of the town and report to the citizens.

Investigation

John Regan supported Mr. Welch’s suggestion and urged the advantage of having a committee or a paid investigator look into town affairs giving an unbiased report, and Maurice Baker emphasized the advisability of securing a paid investigator who knew the details of town government and could come in and give departments a clean bill of health or not as the case might be. The committee made it clear that they were not expecting to find anything out of the way in the conduct of the various departments of the town, that the situation might be entirely otherwise, but that they felt that the taxpayers were entitled to know how the town operates and if it operates efficiently.

Selectman John Mutch responding to the four men, said that he was very much interested in their suggestion. Referring to accusations made against him during the past week and to the recall papers which were out for his removal from office, he said that he was ready to make an issue of the affair. “I am ready to give you men credit for at least trying to save a miserable situation brought on by an accumulation of circumstances over a period of time,” he said, and assured them that there was nothing personal as far as Mr. Kendrick was concerned in the issue. He agreed to. take the proposal made by Mr. Welch under consideration for a week, and to render his decision in the matter at the next Board meeting.

“Let’s Find Out”

Mr. Welch elaborating on his proposal informed the Board that for several years he had been thinking of the value of such a study of the town government which would determine for the taxpayers whether or not they were getting full value for their dollars. He told the Board that if money for such a survey could not be appropriated from town funds he was confident that interested citizens would back it. “We may have the best government in the country,” he said, “but let’s find out about it.”

Following a brief discussion of the events of the last week, the publicity which the issue has had, and the question of financing an investigation, Mr. Welch answered arguments clearly, and stated that in the words of Edgar Guest he believed it could be done.

After the four merchants had left, Selectman Mutch told the Board that he was disturbed about the whole thing and that the proposition made by this committee seemed to have a lot of meat and weight which seemed to place an added obligation upon him. He said that he felt that he was in a tough spot but that he realized that he was just one individual.

“If,” he said, “I have to go through the suggested recall procedure this may well be the last night I will sit with the Board.” “And,” he added, “if the matter is to be smoothed over quietly I cannot make a statement which I had prepared for the Friday issue of the Free Press.” It was also hard he continued to sidetrack the principle involved and just go along. Mentioning the fact that he would be retiring in January anyway, he asked the clerk if he resigned now that resignation could be held to go into effect sixty days before the annual election thus avoiding the expense of a special election.

Concluding that if the manager were retained he hoped he would profit by the last week’s experience, Selectman Mutch asked the Board to excuse him for the night and saying that he would consult with Selectman Brady and Nelson in the interim he promised a decision by next meeting night.

Butters Suggests Conference

Selectman Harry Butters interposed to suggest to Selectman Mutch that the five members of the Board sit down alone and discuss the whole situation, since he felt that many matters could be cleared up and items which had been cited with respect to the manager could easily be proved purely coincidental. With Selectman Holman- seconding this suggestion, Selectman Mutch agreed to meet with the other members on Thursday night. The manager, before Selectman Mutch left, told the Board that regardless of what anyone might think he had had nothing to do with the events of the past week.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)