Lacy v. Selectmen of Winchendon

Carroll, J. In this petition for a writ of mandamus against the selectmen of the town of Winchendon, the petitioner seeks to be reinstated in the office of superintendent of streets, from which office he has been removed by the respondents. On June 22, 1920, the petitioner was appointed, by the board of selectmen then in office, “acting” superintendent of streets for the term ending March, 1921. On March 19, 1921, he was reappointed "acting” superintendent of streets, the term to expire March, 1922. On May 3, 1921, the respondents appointed one Peabody superintendent of streets and notified the petitioner of the appointment and that Peabody would relieve him as acting superintendent on May 9. The petitioner claimed he had not been legally removed and daily presented himself for duty. On May 14, 1921, the selectmen, without notice to him, and without filing charges against him or giving him a hearing, unanimously passed a resolution declaring that "in the opinion of this Board the public interests require that George E. Lacy, appointed by this Board March 19, 1921, as acting superintendent of streets, be removed from said office;” and thereafter voted unanimously that he be removed as acting superintendent of streets, for the reasons set forth in the “foregoing resolution just adopted.” The town of Winchendon has not authorized the election of road commissioners or surveyors of highways, and the appointment and removal of a superintendent of streets was governed at the time the proceedings complained of took place, by St. 1917, c. 344, Part IV, § 13 (see now G. L. c. 41, § 66), which provides that a superintendent of streets shall be appointed by the selectmen and "shall be removable by them when the public interest requires.” The petitioner contends that he could not beremoved for the cause alleged, without notice and a hearing. Assuming, but not deciding, that the appointment as acting [120] superintendent of streets was in effect the appointment of the' petitioner to the office of superintendent of streets, in our opinion it was not necessary to file charges, serve notice on him or give him a hearing before removing him from office for the cause stated in the statute. If the selectmen found that the public interest required his removal they could, under the authority of' the statute, remove him. St. 1917, c. 344, Part IV, § 13. In Ham v. Boston Board of Police, 142 Mass. 90, the controlling words of the statute were that "Any of said officers or members of the department may be removed by the board for cause.” The statute related to the police force of Boston. The plaintiff was removed without notice or hearing. The court held that the removal without notice and hearing was invalid and the words in the statute “for cause” meant “for such cause as seems to it [the board] sufficient, after the party has had notice and an opportunity to be heard in defence or explanation of whatever may be suggested as a cause of removal.’ In O’Dowd v. Boston, 149 Mass. 443, the statute provided that the board “may remove such subordinates for such cause as they may deem sufficient and shall assign in their order for removal.” The petitioner was a “subordinate;” he was discharged for intoxication while on duty by the superintendent of ferries, who made report of his action and the reason for it to the board. This action of the superintendent was approved by the board, without notice to the petitioner. The court in its opinion held that the removal took place on the adoption of the vote by the board approving the action of the superintendent. O’Dowd v. Boston has been interpreted in Attorney General v. Donahue, 169 Mass. 18, where Holmes, J., says at page 22: “The statute gives the mayor power to remove ‘for such cause as he shall deem sufficient,’which is a power to remove without hearing. O’Dowd v. Boston, 149 Mass. 443.” The terms of the statute here to be considered provide that the selectmen shall appoint a superintendent of streets who “shall be removable by them when the public interest requires.” His term of office is until the next annual meeting after his appointment or until his successor is qualified. St. 1917, c. 344, Part IV, § 13 (see now G. L. c. 41, § 66). This statute was first enacted in 1889. St. 1889, c. 98, § 4. It provided, “When in the judgment of the selectmen the best interests of the town so requires, [121] said superintendent may be removed from his office by said board.” The same language was used until R. L. c. 25, § 85, took effect. In that section the words “in the judgment of the selectmen” were omitted. The present statute, however, should be construed as if it now read as originally enacted. Main v. County of Plymouth, 223 Mass. 66, 69. Derinza’s Case, 229 Mass. 435,442,445. Where power is given to remove “for cause” as in Ham v. Boston Board of Police, supra, notice and a hearing are conditions which must be complied with before the power of removal can be exercised. But when power is given to remove from office for such cause as shall seem sufficient to the removing board as in O’Dowd v. Boston, supra, removal may be made without notice and hearing. Removal for cause means removal fpr cause sufficient in law. That can only be determined after an opportunity to be heard and a finding so that the sufficiency of the cause may be determined in court. But removal when the best interests of the town in the judgment of the selectmen require it, places the decision as to the sufficiency qf the cause (provided it is not irrational or whimsical, Ayers v. Hatch, 175 Mass. 489) on the conscience and sound judgment of the board rather than upon the law. The words "for such cause as they may deem sufficient” and “when in the judgment of the selectmen the best interests of the town so requires” mean the same thing when used in a statute relating to removals from office, or at least the power of removal from office authorizing the removing power to act according to their best judgment when the public interest requires it, is no greater restriction on the freedom of action of the removing power than the authority to remove for such cause as they may deem sufficient. It cannot be said that as matter of law the action of the selectmen was without sufficient cause. If in their judgment the interest of the public required the removal of the petitioner, they were given the right of removal and we cannot revise or review their action. O’Dowd v. Boston, supra. Attorney General v. Donahue, supra. And see Ayers v. Hatch, supra; Hogan v. Collins, 183 Mass. 43, 46; Knowles v. Boston, 12 Gray, 339. The petition for the writ of mandamus must be denied. Ordered accordingly.