Meeting Ignores School Pleas, Cuts Budget By $126,558-June 15, 1971

Town Meeting Follows FinCom Recommendations and Slashes Nonsalary School Funds

Town meeting’s voting the FinCom recommendations and cutting $126,558 of the 1971 nonsalary school budget request revolved around the issue of encumbrances. FinCom Chairman George T. Mahoney said his board had reduced the school budget “to the exact penny” of sums encumbered last December and insisted these were available sums of money. “Because we have cut their budget $500 or three per cent in some categories, they’re horrified. They’re like kids in a candy store – we want to keep the tax rate down.” Dr. Couch presented a different set of figures for 1970 school expenditures, explaining that encumbered sums were for items ordered but not yet paid for because the items had not been received. “We don’t feel it’s fair to leave out encumbrances because it is money that is spent. In most instances, we can show we are giving teachers and your children less than we gave them last year,” added Dr. Couch, urging restoration of $504 to the first category, administration. That amendment was declared lost by town counsel and moderator Walter J. Gotovich on a voice vote and representatives proceeded to the second category, instructional supplies and textbooks, and the school committee’s request for a $27,661 reinstatement.

Dr. Couch noted continuing changes in curriculum and urged town meeting to reject the FinCom‘s recommendation “if you want your children to get as much as they got last year.” Again came the argument on encumbrances. Mr. Mahoney said $181,015 of the $215,000 appropriated last year had been spent and that encumbered sums were not for expenses incurred in 1970. “The bill was incurred in 1970; it could not be paid until we received the goods,” retorted Dr. Couch. Town meeting again chose the FinCom‘s recommendation and vocally defeated the school committee’s amendment. Rejected in quick succession were school committee motions to restore $1,910 to custodial supplies, $5,134 to auxiliary agencies and $15,941 to continuing fees and services, which category, said Dr. Couch, included increased tuition of Norwood pupils attending special schools such as Perkins School for the Blind. As representatives reached the athletics category, the school committee chairman asked which sport they would like eliminated if they voted against a $6,604 restoration. Town meeting members replied “none” and defeated the amendment.

The lunch program was next and School Supt. Philip O. Coakley said the $10,000 reinstatement was needed to buy food. Mr. Mahoney noted roughly $30,000 was in the revolving fund for the lunch program and said the $10,000 was an additional, unneeded sum. Representatives approved the FinCom‘s recommendation of no appropriation to the lunch program. Maintenance of school buildings, which falls under selectmen’s jurisdiction, was next and Selectman Joseph W. Wall said his board had changed its position on the original $110,500 request because money had been made available last year and not spent. Dr. Couch disagreed with the FinCom‘s figure of $70,017 spent out of $100,000 appropriated last year, saying roughly $121 was unspent. Town meeting member George Usevich raised the issue of encumbrances again, pointing out that, “In effect, the money hasn’t been spent. But it has; the bills have to be paid.”

Mr. Mahoney said his board was “talking about going down to the accountant’s office with a dustpan and brush to clean out the tills.” He said the FinCom‘s action was not taken because the money was encumbered, but because it was available. “Why are you saying these encumbrances occurred at the very end of the year? You know it didn’t happen,” retorted school committee member Rudith Berkowitz, asking Dr. Coakley to explain the encumbrances. The school superintendent, in elaborating on the department’s business procedures, acknowledged certain items had sometimes been purchased late in the year. “But we don’t make a grand practice of it.” “We’re recommending a nine per cent reduction in their total, versus a 30 per cent increase,” said Mr. Mahoney. “We think they could get along on this if they would try.”

Representatives vocally refused to restore $29,862 to building maintenance, $4,796 to repair and replacement and $2,850 to maintenance of grounds. Turning to capital outlay, the school committee proposed an amendment boosting the $13,706 recommendation to $35,000, the amount appropriated last year. The FinCom claimed only $10,554 of the 1970 appropriation had been spent; Dr. Couch argued that $34,848 had been either paid out or encumbered. “We all have champagne tastes but most of us in this town have beer pocketbooks,” remarked District 6 member Emilie Moses, who agreed Norwood support a bill to remove the fiscal autonomy of school committees presently before the legislature. “You sound like I do, Emilie, when I’m talking to the administration,” replied Dr. Coakley, pointing out he had $35,000 last year and only $13,706 was recommended this year. “You’ll get along; we’ll all get along,” Miss Moses shot back. Town meeting defeated the amendment.

Though representatives paired the nonsalary school budget, voice votes quickly approved a total $163,203 addition to the $5,347,293 salary request to pay negotiated raises for teachers, Norwood teachers, Dr. Couch said, and administrators’ salaries are still being negotiated. The tentative agreement reached with teachers would provide an 11-step scale from $7,400 to $12,000 for teachers with bachelor’s degrees. The present, 11-step scale runs from $7,100 to $11,400.

As the second session of the 1971 annual meeting opened last night, representative Robert Hermon requested reconsideration of the firefighters’ request for parity “to let them give us some real facts. Otherwise, this will drag on and we’ll have it again next year.” Selectman Wall questioned reconsideration since selectmen, who set the salaries, had voted 3-2 for disparity. Miss Moses remarked she believed, if town meeting voted the money for parity, selectmen would go along with the wishes of town meeting. The vote for reconsideration was 66-38 and the quorum questioned. Moderator Gotovich said 105 members were needed and a head count found 111. District 5 member Andrew M. Monahan again proposed a $15,000 or 2.7 per cent addition to the $744,332 requested for fire department wages to restore parity with police salaries. “We in this town have built one building for both these groups of men; there is a personnel problem.” Firefighter Jack Mulcahy said town meeting requesting the request was “motivated by the principle of parity. We’ve all been deeply disturbed because of what disparity has done to the previously excellent relationship between police and fire. We’d love to have a product here tonight to parade in front of you to present our case but our product is to save lives and property,” continued Mr. Mulcahy, noting the fire department had always done its job well. “Isn’t that the ultimate in merit? I cannot believe you require more merit from us than the duties I’ve just outlined.”

Noting town meeting had done away with parity last year, Selectmen Chairman John F. Lydon queried, “If you go ahead and repudiate yourselves and reverse your decision of last year, what kind of direction are we having?” The selectmen chairman pointed out Norwood would be fifth in the 11-town Bay State League if six per cent were granted firefighters and third if nine per cent were approved. FinCom Chairman Mahoney questioned the $15,000 addition, saying it did not seem to go along with the percentage quoted. “It seems to me it should be in excess of $22,000.” Mr. Monahan replied town meeting was voting on parity, not the dollar. “If they vote parity, you’ll have to help us.” Parity was voted, 63-46.

Little or no questions were asked on other accounts approved last night, with town meeting sidetracking only once from the FinCom‘s recommendations to adding $1,600 to playground maintenance requested by selectmen for construction of a fence at Dean Field. In completing action on the $17.7 million town budget, representatives approved $4,500, dog officer; $48,785, sewers; $43,370, drains; $73,000, town dump; $38,050, rubbish removal; $80,961, public works administration; $95,217, public works garage maintenance, and $287,836, highway. Other accounts approved were $3,498,701, light department; $113,245, water department; $207,477, library; $15,670, parks maintenance; $63,575, playground maintenance; $161,301, recreation; $139,347, cemetery maintenance; $4,650, cemetery improvement; $175,465, veterans benefits; $293,014, retirement; $1,421,836, interest and debt; $172,000, insurance; $65,000, reserve fund; $1,250, municipal airport, and $46,175, miscellaneous.

Concluding the annual warrant, town meeting members adopted FinCom recommendations on appropriations for such items as unpaid bills, Chapter 90 highway maintenance and construction, workmen’s compensation, group insurance and the Blue Hill Regional Vocational High School. A brief argument ensued over a selectmen‘s article requesting authorization to petition the legislature for a town charter change to expand the three-man FinCom to nine members who would be appointed by the moderator. Michael A. Iwanowicz, unsuccessful candidate for election to the FinCom this year, urged town meeting to retain an elected board and Mr. Monahan substituted an amendment to that effect. The amendment was approved by a voice vote and the subsequent motion in a 41-35 standing vote. Cries of representatives questioning the quorum were ignored by the moderator so the final article, authorizing reapportionment of voting districts, could be acted upon and town meeting adjourned. Questioned about the 41-35 vote, Mr. Gotovich said it was legal until a quorum had been questioned and a count taken. As to the voices questioning the quorum, “I didn’t hear them,” said the moderator.

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