Mutch States Ousting Will Be Made Next Week-This Day In Norwood History-August 19, 1938

An intimation made last week by Selectman John Mutch that the General Manager William C. Kendrick might be ousted from his position was established as fact at this week’s meeting of the Board when Selectman Mutch told the Board that he would introduce a definite proposal to relieve the manager of his duties next week. Discussion on the selectman’s statement introduced the word recall, with numerous inquiries made as to the proceedings which would take the issue to the people through a special election for members of the selectmen’s board, and Selectman Harry Butters emphatically stated his disapproval of the proposed action to fire the manager.

Last week Selectman Mutch said “I intimated that I might living in a motion with regard to the manager. Certain proceedings require more time, but I expect to present through regular proceedings a motion which will remove Mr. Kendrick from the duties of general manager. I am not ready tonight to take this action, but will be next week.” Further he stated that he would welcome an opportunity to bring the matter before the people according to methods outlined in the Charter, namely a Recall of the Board. “I understand,” he continued, “that a recall may take place, and this will bring the matter before the people and make an issue of it.” While Selectman Mutch said that he did not like to remove the manager, he added that as far as he was concerned proceedings must follow. To inquiries from Selectman Harry Butters as to whether ho was taking such action as an answer- to the Free Press editorial of last week, Selectman Mutch said that he was not accepting a challenge, that it was simply that from his point of view the action was necessary.

Holman Makes Inquiries

Selectman Charles Holman made numerous inquiries from the clerk as to what constituted the recall procedure, and said that he was leaving on his vacation shortly and would hate to feel that something would take place affecting his position while he was out of the state and could not combat it.

Selectman Butters stated emphatically that on his part if the general manager were relieved of his duties any person who succeeded him in office would be taking a temporary appointment. “I have taken part in one removal procedure here,” he said, “and I will say that if Mr. Kendrick is removed from office, and if the people see fit to continue me in office, the fellow, who takes his place, will be taking a temporary position. I am satisfied that politics and prejudice are the main reasons for this action.

All through the past year there has been criticism and objection to the manager with no cooperation from the Board for him.”

The manager told the Board that he wished to report that the appointment had been made in his office, and that the water contract had been awarded on Monday following the receipt of the contract form from Whitman Howard on Thursday night.

Welch Criticises Board’s Actions On Contract Award

“You could use that money. You could get shoes for fifty kids in town that need them,” Jack Welch told the Norwood Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night with reference to some $150 which he said they could have saved last week by following the policy of awarding contracts to the low bidders. Mr. Welch appeared before the Board to make inquiries as to why the lowest bidders did not get the contracts awarded awarded last week, and asked that the makers of the motions answer him.

Selectman Herbert Brady replied that he moved for the buckwheat coal award to go to Whittemore Co. because he assumed that Forrest was not in the coal business. Mr. Welch then queried how Mr. Brady reconciled this answer with the award of a contract for a truck recently to a man not in the automobile business and not the low bidder. Selectman Brady replied that he assumed the man was in the automobile business.

Mutch On Bidding

Selectman John Mutch stated that he had mentioned for the award of the oil contract to E. P. Cotter because he was interested in preserving the spirit of competitive bidding. “I feel that it stifles the competitive sense when the bidding goes very much one way,” he said, “and felt that it was in the interest of the taxpayers that it be distributed.”

Mr. Welch then inquired if bidders who were taxpayers were to get preference, and if there were reasons why such bidders had not been considered on that basis. “Is the policy to be that a bid close to 10% higher than the low bid will get the business?” he asked. He pointed out that the the selectmen were awarding contracts on one policy of not always favoring the low bidder, and the manager, dealing with bids under $500, was following the low bidder policy, and asked if they could operate on two policies.

“There has been so much talk around town about it that I want to find the true facts,” Mr. Welch continued. “The rumor is that the contracts are awarded on the basis of personal feelings. If that is the way you operate it is time it was stopped. I understand there is a feeling against Forrest on the part of some members. I’m not interested in Forrest. I’m interested in taxes and the way the Board operates. If that is the attitude taken it is time to do something.”

Selectman Brady replied that Forrest didn’t enter into it, that it was a matter of his not being in the coal business. “Don’t you have confidence enough in his business ability to get the coal from him and save some money,” Mr. Welch countered,” you could use that money. You could get shoes for fifty kids in town that need them.”

Butters Answers Mutch

Selectman Harry Butters interposed to answer the argument made on competitive bidding by Selectman Mutch, saying that to his mind the way to create competitive bidding in its fullest measure “was to award the contracts to the low bidder not to one at a lower price and one at a higher. “You destroy competitive bidding that way,” he said.

Chairman Sture Nelson informed Mr. Welch that no action as to a permanent policy had been taken, and the General Manager replying to a question from Mr. Welch as to whether the Board could adopt a policy with respect to purchases under $500, answered that according to the counsel’s ruling the manager was subject to the selectmen in all his doings.

Chairman Nelson remarked that other considerations entered into contract awards than price and mentioned complications of service on previous oil contracts. The manager, in response to a query from Selectman Butters, said that he had stated at the time that the Welfare Board had mentioned the trouble with delivery that it was strange that complaints had not been made to him before, and he would continue to believe that delivery was satisfactory until specific instances were cited to prove otherwise.

Mr. Welch reiterated that if the Board was awarding contracts on a personal basis it was time something was done, and said he thought the Board had been very “lame,” that they would not have spent their own money on the same basis. To queries on the gas bid, he asked why the Board couldn’t have found out something about the out of town bidder. Selectman Mutch informed Mr. Welch that the question of quality of the coal and gas had never been mentioned. Mr. Welch’s parting shot was that he felt that the Board had shown poor judgement and had acted without following the rules of good business.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)