Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-24
l. N. FoRp REINsTArEp
Unanimous Vote of Common Council
 at Meeting Tuesday Evening.


 By unanimous vote, Irving M. Ford was reinstated by the common council at special meeting Tuesday evening to settle his troubles with Superin- tendent of Streets A. L. Gelinas
 There was large crowd present, which filled up all of the chairs in the spectators gallery and overf1owed to the corridors lining the council cham Der. .
 The meeting was called to order promptly at 8 o'clock by Mayor Chas. A. Gates The communication from Mir. Ford was then read and he was asked if he wanted to give his side of the question, but he said, that as he was represented by counsel Attorney Samuel B. Harveyl. he would have his counsel do the talking.
 Attorney Harvey asked that the res4 oiution giving MT. Ford the appoint ment be read. He then said, Prom the facts of the case, understand that on the fifteenth day of April. Mr. Ford's appointment was to go into ef feet, that he was ready to commence his labors at o'clock that morning but that he was suspended by Super intendent Gelinas at o'clock, so he did not really begin his duties The clause in the resolution allowing Mr. Gelinas to suspend his assistant sig nifies that there should be some cause, so there should be some statement by MT Gelinas against MT. Ford war ranting the suspension. I cannot see any reason or cause meriting the sus- pension at the present time.
 Mir. Gelinas then said that when he was aware of MT. Ford's appointment, he looked up the resolution and found the extent of his powers in regard to suspending him. T suspended him because I did not think him capable of handling a gang of men because of his past career" Mir. Harvey replied that This past career had undoubtedly been investigated by the common council before the appointment and his appointment shows that he is a fit | man.
 Alderman P. J. Laramee said that the appointment of Mr. Ford had not | been talked of much and few of the aldermen were aware of it and did not have chance of Investigating his past career. MT. Ge1inas was questioned if Mr. Ford had eyer approached him in regard to the appointment as his assistant, and he said that he did, ask ing him if he was against him, and MT Gelinas said that he would not work against him. MT. Geliras added that he had told the late Alderman John l.. Leonard and advised him. that il he wanted to make a change, to make a change for the better. Alderman Flynn said that the resolution looked ''phony" to him from the beginning and he would like to have the persor who drafted it to explain if there was any reason for it.
 I IL might have been fasty in considerint the action, but he did not think tha Mir. Gelinas' action was respectful tt the board in regard to their appoint ment. as he did not give the man { tryout He was neutral. Alderman Webber offered a resolution that MT Ford be reinstated with pay datin! from April 15. the date of his suspen sion. The resolution was prepared zb, Corporation Counsel King and second led by Alderman Flynn.
 Corporation Counsel William A King then explained that the sam ] conditions that are present now ma, arise again, namely, MT. Gelinas cal suspend Mir. Ford tomorrow He be lieved that it should be settled w1eth CT Mir. Gelinas had the power to sus pend without cause. and if he did. otfOulu DC CudHEeus AlQeTIIldn W CD ber's resolution, not containing tn clause requiring a cause for the sus pension. was unanimously adopted Alderman Carlson thought that tn resolution should be changed. that tn superintendent should be required t have cause to suspend his assistan
 After some discussion in which near ly all the aldermen took part, Alder
 man Webber's resolution was indef
 nitely postponed and the following on adopted:
 That Irving M. Ford is hereby rein stated in his position as assistant t
 the superintendent of streets (wit - full pay from the date of his suspen sion), pursuant to the provisions
 Resolution No. 1297. except that tt
 superintendent of streets is authorize
 and empowered to suspend, withot
 pay, said assistant to the superintenC
 ent for just cause that may arise aft the assistant to the superintendent ha 2 entered 'on his duties. Tn the ever that the superintendent of stree = shall exercise said power of suspe1 sion, then on the application to u common council of the assistant to Il
 superintendent for reinstatement, u
 common council shall have the pow to determine whether such aliegt cause of suspension constituted ju
 cause and the decision of the comrnt !. council on that matter shall be fins
 This resolution shall take effect {