Gardner v. City of Lowell

221 Mass. 150

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: May 20, 1915
• Status: Published

Opinion

Rtjgg, C. J.

The plaintiff seeks to recover from the defendant in an action of contract for alleged services rendered after January 5, 1914. Theretofore the plaintiff was foreman of laborers in the street department of the defendant. On that day one Morse, as commissioner of streets and highways, took charge of that department and gave notice to the plaintiff of his intent to suspend him indefinitely on the ground that the position held by him was not necessary and that in a more economical administration of the department its duties could be transferred to others, and that he was entitled to a hearing in accordance with St. 1904, c. 314, § 2, as amended by St. 1905, c. 243. The plaintiff requested a hearing, which was had before Morse on January 14, 1914, and he was indefinitely suspended. Thereafter the plaintiff filed a petition in the Police Court of Lowell under St. 1911, c. 624, for a review of the action of Morse in suspending him, and after a hearing that court affirmed the order of the commissioner. At the trial of this action in the Superior Court, the plaintiff offered to show that he was not removed in good faith on the ground of economy but from political and' personal motives. This and other evidence later to be narrated was excluded and it was ruled that the proceedings in the Police Court constituted a defence. A verdict for the defendant was ordered. Exceptions to these rulings bring the case here.

1. The plaintiff contends that St. 1911, c. 624, does not apply to his removal because, as he contends, he held no phblic office and that statute relates only to officers. This contention cannot be supported. That statute enacts that every person "appointed to an office classified under the civil service rules of the Commonwealth,” with exceptions not here material, "who is removed therefrom, lowered in rank or compensation, or suspended, or, without his consent, transferred from such office or employment to any other,” may have a hearing. The meaning of this provision, although not expressed with the utmost clearness, is not difficult to determine. It is not confined in its operation to those who hold office as distinguished from employment, but it includes all those who hold positions classified under the civil service as officers. This is the natural import of the words used. The use of " employment ” in connection with "office” in the latter part of the clause above quoted confirms the view that the classification as office or otherwise under the civil service rules is the decisive test. The distinction between an office and an employment as matter of law is often a difficult one to make, and may depend upon circumstances of some nicety. The classification in the civil service, while perhaps not always legally accurate, usually is certain and easy of ascertainment. By resort to it as a standard, there commonly would be no doubt as to the course to be followed. It is plain in the case at bar that the position held by the plaintiff was classified in "The official service.” Hence he had a right to a hearing under St. 1911, c. 624.

2. This is the kind of a cause for removal or suspension which is comprehended within St. 1904, c. 314. The person affected is entitled to be given a copy of the “reasons” specifically setting out a "just cause” for his removal. "Charges” as used in §2 of that act includes not only the specifications of inefficiency or misconduct, if any, which may be the basis of the action complained of, but also other “reasons” which may not involve any criticism of the person removed or suspended. A judicial review both of the fact and the good faith of the officer or board, where the reason alleged is the abolition of an unnecessary position, may be a most important protection to the tenure and efficiency of the civil service.

3. Having exercised his right to have the action of Morse reviewed by the court, the plaintiff has elected to accept the relief afforded thereby. The final clause of § 1 of St. 1911, c. 624, is, “The decision of the justice of said police, district or municipal court shall be final and conclusive upon the parties.” The correctness of the conclusion of the Police Court of Lowell, as to all matters rightly in issue before it, is not open to review in this action. Barnes v. Mayor of Chicopee, 213 Mass. 1.

4. The good faith of Morse in alleging that the suspension was made on the ground of economy and because the department did not require the services of a foreman, was a fact to be determined by the Police Court and is not subject to review in this action. The abolition of an unnecessary position made in-good faith plainly is the duty of an executive or administrative officer. One holding such a position, though efficient in the performance of his duties, may be removed simply because the position is no longer necessary, provided the removal is made in good faith, and the recital of that reason is not made the cover for some other unjustifiable motive. Ganey v. Lowell, 199 Mass. 47, 49.

5. The plaintiff offered to show that soon after his suspension an unattested copy of the papers connected with his removal or suspension was placed in a safe in the office of the department of streets and highways and kept there until a short time before the hearing in the Police Court, when they were removed. A brief memorandum of the steps in the matter also was kept there. But no copies were filed with the city clerk. This evidence was excluded. It is contended it was admissible as showing a failure to conform to the requirement of the statute to the effect that “a copy of such reasons, notice and answer and of the order of removal, suspension or transfer shall be made a matter of public record.” St. 1904, c. 314, § 2, as amended by St. 1905, c. 243. The proffered evidence showed a compliance with the statute. Under the city charter of Lowell, St. 1911, c. 645, the department of streets and highways is one of the five departments into which the administration of all the affairs of the city is divided. § 38. Morse as commissioner was in charge of that department. § 22. He was the administrative head of the department and had general power to “suspend, remove, or discharge all subordinate officers and employees” in that department. § 41. He therefore was the “sole officer in charge of a department,” under R. L. c. 35, § 11, and charged with the custody of “any public records in such department.” The removal or discharge of a subordinate, since it must be a matter of public record, was in that department. The method of keeping it was not illegal as shown by the proffer of evidence. There was nothing to show that the removal of the copies from the safe was anything more than temporary or incidental to the judicial inquiry. No harm was done by the exclusion of the evidence. It is not necessary to consider whether it also rightly was excluded on other grounds.

Exceptions overruled.