Should Norwood’s Town Charter Be Revised?-This Day In Norwood History-September 16, 1938

Norwood’s Charter

(Editorial)

Are the recall provisions in Norwood’s Charter a relic of the horse and buggy days? Should the charter he revised to inform to Norwood’s present voting list?

The local political situation has brought to light matters which demand the serious consideration of the citizenry. This column suggested less grumbling about the charter unless defects in it could be found. Publicly no constructive criticism has been offered. That provision in the charter which makes possible a recall when but 200 voters request it is a relic of the horse and buggy days. Norwood has not been out of step with progress. The charter requires immediate amendment so that it may in all respects soundly govern the town’s destiny.. Two hundred voters during 1915 and for some time thereafter might have constituted a sufficiently representative group. No one now can say so. How simple it is for a handful of voters to force upon the town not only expense but needless political horseplay. The right to recall in the hands of a politically dishonest or pestiferous minority may and will cause much hurt to the town. (This reference is not intended to apply to the present sponsors of the recall move.) Who knows what would have come to pass if the necessary number to bring about a recall under the charter were one proportionate to the extent of the voters in the town?

We do not by this criticism attempt to prejudge the issue awaiting decision of the town. It is actuated however by the hope that the vote by the town will reflect on its part sound judgment. Since the recall is legally before the voters, neither side nor the voters can hope for a solution helpful to the town unless, before the special election, the selectmen disclose, publicly, the details which, m their opinion, warranted the action they had taken respecting the general manager. The selectmen must not and cannot overlook the gravity of the matters which they have undertaken to bring about and which they alone must clarify in sufficient time to afford the people of Norwood an opportunity to pass judgment on the facts before October 11th.

For many years it has been the good fortune of the town to have as its counsel one expert, by weight of his experience, in municipal government. In fact our counsel was one of the originators of our charter. When the opportunity presents itself, the town has an indisputable right to expect for its money the expert services which doubtless was considered by board after board which reappointed our town counsel. Argument that special counsel was necessary “does not hold water.” If for any reason our counsel’s usefulness to the town has become impaired, he should resign.

The voters have not appropriated any compensation for special counsel. Since payment to him must come out of the reserve fund, only after approval of the finance commission, the town may expect from the commission just consideration.