Council Fires Popular Clerk

Allegations of "house cleaning" and party-line politicking flooded a packed City Council chamber Monday night in protest of a 5-4 vote last week to not re-appoint City Clerk Joseph E. Connarton.

The vote came at a special meeting of the City Council last Thursday. The councillors split down party lines on the decision whether to extend Connarton's contract for another three year term.

The liberal Cambridge Civic Association-endorsed majority voted not to extend the contract while the Independent councilors dissented.

Several Cambridge residents accused the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) majority on the council of firing Connarton because of perceived partisanship toward the Independent councillors.

The CCA councillors did not give Connarton a specific reason why he was dismissed, Connarton said yesterday. But some councillors said the move was made to upgrade the services of the clerk's office.

"We wanted to improve the overall efficient of the council and the accessibility of the clerk's office to the public," Councillor Jonathon S. Myers said.

But other politicos and Cambridge citizens who gathered in the council meeting characterized the decision to fire Connarton as a blatant example of patronage politics from the city's anti-patronage association.

Residents who packed the council chamber gave Connarton a standing ovation as he entered the room and hung a banner that read "Power Corrupts" from the balcony.

They also hissed and booed at the CCA councillors as they entered the council chamber and as the council- lors praised Connarton on his service.

Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 interrupted thevolatile meeting for an unprecedented three times,threatening to recess the meeting if the audiencedid not remain in control.

Some observers said the decision not to rehireConnarton's could be a harbinger of future effortsto install CCA-supporters in top city posts.

"You want to know why he was fired?" saidformer mayor Alfred E. Vellucci, "For one, [theCCA] has the votes, and for another, [Connarton's]a friend of the Sullivans."

Connarton's father grew up with CouncillorWalter J. Sullivan, who has served on the councilfor well more than 30 years. The Sullivan familyhas been an influential Independent politicalfamily in Cambridge for decades.

"If [the CCA] is going to do it, they shouldn'tsneak behind people's backs," said Bob Smith, aConnarton supporter at the council meeting. "It'svery unAmerican and there's no reason for it."

As the rumors of backdoor politics flooded thebalcony and stairwell at City Hall, manysupporters said the actions of the CCA majoritywill result in a turnover Independent majoritynext election.

"Don't worry about Joe [Connarton]," said JamesJ. McSweeney, a city council hopeful in lastNovember's election. "We'll take care of that inNovember."

McSweeney, whose thoughts were echoed byseveral city employees, said he was sure the moveto fire Connarton was in an effort to purge CityHall of Independent associates.

The city clerk said he knew he did not earn thecouncil support he needed for reappointment afterReeves called a special meeting last Tuesday todiscuss the matter. Connarton said the decisionwas unexpected.

"This isn't really any different from any othergovernment action," Connarton said, citingexamples of governors changing appointed officialsat the end of each term. "I respect the fact thatthey are making a change here."

Connarton, a Cambridge native who was served ingovernment for 24 years, in uncertain about careerplans after he leaves the clerk's office.

"I know that I will miss this place and I willmiss the opportunity to serve the people ofCambridge," Connarton said.CrimsonHau LiuCity Clerk JOSEPH E. CONNARTON

Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 interrupted thevolatile meeting for an unprecedented three times,threatening to recess the meeting if the audiencedid not remain in control.

Some observers said the decision not to rehireConnarton's could be a harbinger of future effortsto install CCA-supporters in top city posts.

"You want to know why he was fired?" saidformer mayor Alfred E. Vellucci, "For one, [theCCA] has the votes, and for another, [Connarton's]a friend of the Sullivans."

Connarton's father grew up with CouncillorWalter J. Sullivan, who has served on the councilfor well more than 30 years. The Sullivan familyhas been an influential Independent politicalfamily in Cambridge for decades.

"If [the CCA] is going to do it, they shouldn'tsneak behind people's backs," said Bob Smith, aConnarton supporter at the council meeting. "It'svery unAmerican and there's no reason for it."

As the rumors of backdoor politics flooded thebalcony and stairwell at City Hall, manysupporters said the actions of the CCA majoritywill result in a turnover Independent majoritynext election.

"Don't worry about Joe [Connarton]," said JamesJ. McSweeney, a city council hopeful in lastNovember's election. "We'll take care of that inNovember."

McSweeney, whose thoughts were echoed byseveral city employees, said he was sure the moveto fire Connarton was in an effort to purge CityHall of Independent associates.

The city clerk said he knew he did not earn thecouncil support he needed for reappointment afterReeves called a special meeting last Tuesday todiscuss the matter. Connarton said the decisionwas unexpected.

"This isn't really any different from any othergovernment action," Connarton said, citingexamples of governors changing appointed officialsat the end of each term. "I respect the fact thatthey are making a change here."

Connarton, a Cambridge native who was served ingovernment for 24 years, in uncertain about careerplans after he leaves the clerk's office.

"I know that I will miss this place and I willmiss the opportunity to serve the people ofCambridge," Connarton said.CrimsonHau LiuCity Clerk JOSEPH E. CONNARTON