Norwood Selectmen to Appoint Successor to Late Library Trustee O. Hunt Bowman Following Legal Ruling-August 17, 1976

The selection of a successor to the late library trustee O. Hunt Bowman will be determined by the board of selectmen rather than by voters in the upcoming October 5 special town election, according to a legal ruling released by acting town counsel Charles L. Donahue. Donahue advised that because the town charter is silent on filling library board vacancies, prevailing state law is “mandatory” and requires an appointment rather than a special election.

Moderator William J. Plasko had previously suggested that voters could fill the library vacancy concurrently with the special election called to choose a successor to the late Selectman Charles “Lopey” Rich, arguing that a public vote would establish a democratic precedent. However, Donahue ruled that state law governs the procedure, specifying that selectmen alone must make the appointment unless the library board formally notifies selectmen in writing of the vacancy within one month.

While the library trustees did not issue written notice within one month of Bowman’s death on June 14, library trustees Chairman George M. Ruboy expressed confidence that selectmen and trustees would cooperate. “We felt it’d be inappropriate to seek Hunt Bowman’s vacancy quickly,” Ruboy remarked. “Here was a man on the board 16 years who gave good service. We didn’t want to rush it.” Ruboy noted that the trustees continue to accept resumes and letters of application from citizens interested in library service and expect to put forward a nominee within two weeks. Selectmen Chairman Joseph F. Curran stated that his board will take the trustees’ recommendation into consideration before finalizing the appointment.

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