Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-01
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Wouldn't Do Business With inc
 Mayors Representative.


 nit this book is not necessary there
 and could be got along without
 There was never such row in any
 board in the city as this and 1t prom ises to become bigger. The board
 held a special meeting last night for the purpose as has already been stat ed in the Democrat, of ascertafning why the city comptroller has not
 honored requisition for 150 copies
 of the book above mentioned. If those who are responsible for this disturbance on the board thought | they would have smooth sailing last night they found out their mistake at the outset, for Alderman Martin Scul- ly, acting as mayor in the absence of Mayor Thoms, was on hand to act as chairman of the meeting by the
 rights vested in him by the city char ter. This occasioned a good deal of surprise and the democratic members
 of the board retired to consider the matter There were present Commis-
 sioners Monagan, Kelley and McDon- aid, democrats, and Gallond and Laun republicans. Absent were Commis- sioners Castle, democrat, and Chap
 man, republican. After conferring about five or ten minutes those who had retired entered the room and took their places around the table,
 Mayor Scully taking the chairman's
 seat. Commissioner Gallond on a
 wink from Commissioner Kelley, pro tested against the presence of MT Scully in the chair, the moment
 Clerk Fitzgerald began to read the call for the meeting. Acting Mayor Seully thereupon delivered himself
 about his rights as acting mayor, nc
 matter whether or not the mayor is
 in town. The fact that the mayor was
 unable to be present, said MT Scully, gave him the right to preside at the meeting. He said he had looked over the charter before coming to the meeting and found he was within his rights in coming.
 Commissioner Gallond asked Con- missioner Mcdonald if such had ever been done before and the answer was in the negative. Commissioner Mona gan's interpretation of the charter was that Vice Chairman Mcdonald should preside. Mir Scully said were he to consider his own feelings in the matter he would have remained away. But there were other considerations and there he was and there he intend ed staying unless the board objected. To bring the matter properly before the board Commissioner Gallond nov ed that Vice Chairman Mcdonald pre- side. MT Scully them said he would call Commissioner Gallond to order, no matter what was the custom. The charter does not provide for vice chairman of the board, he said, and if custom established such an office it was about time things should be transacted legally by the board. MT Scully would have the board remem- Der that he was not looking fer the job, but if he were to leave he would had no right to hold an illegal meet ing.
 Commissioner Mcdonald said that when he. saw MT Scully in the room he thought he had come to act as con servator of the board. He said he had looked up the charter and he agreed with Mir Scully that If Mir Scully wished to preside at the meeting and a protest was entered he could call the meeting illegal. Mir Scully re- piled that according to the charter the board by objecting to him would deprive him of his rights of office, but he would remind the board again that he was not after the job, and not tc consider his feelings. for 1t was not a personal matter at all with him.
 Commissioner Kelley said: ''To sec where we are Commissioner McDon- aid ought to call the meeting." and Commissioner Mcdonald agreed with thesuggestion. Commissioner Monagan joined in the expression and Mir Scul- ly said that he would consider such course very discourteous to him as acting mayor. He new his rights and the board had no power to elect a vice chairman and no power at all only what the charter gives. The board had right to elect a chairman pro tenn but not permanent vice chairman.
 Commissioner Monagan remarked that if the board has no power fl might as we'll go out of business right now. Such was the drift of the arguments for some time until Nh Scully said he had the same power tc 1 act as chairman of the board of edu- cation in the absence of the mayor as | he had the power to sign bills and dc l other things as acting mayor. In i short he is the mayor with all the 1 mayors powers during the absence of ! the mayor. He added, that his right l to act as acting mayor was never be- fore questioned.
 Commissioner Mcdonald said that i the position Of vice chairman was ! first created to give honor to a cer- tain member of the board under a Kilduff administration. and the first | thing he knew. '.the office came to be regarded as 8 regular thing" "Il never thought 1t exactly right" he said. "and l say right now that think the mayor has the right and power to deputize Mir Scully to act for him"
 Commissioner Kelley after thIs, said. 'If we are wrong we ought tc find it out. but 1t Is my opinion that the mayor Is chairman ex-ofieio of thls board only and he has no power to delegate his authority to anyone else" |
 Mr Seully replied that the board vas assuming sn attitude in direct violation Of the charter and that in- 4 stead nf fha marnr nrraaiina his