Vellucci Attempts to Locate City Clerk

Councillor Alfred E. Vellucci yesterday conducted a one man investigation into the existence of the Cambridge City Clerk. Vellucci doubted the existence of such a functionary.

Since May 15, when City Clerk Frederick H. Burke was taken ill, assistant city Paul V. Healy has carried on the office. The question of Healy's validity have been important to Vellucci, because, in Burke's absence, Healy has issued marriage licenses to Ted Williams and also to Vellucci's daughter.

Vellucci demanded to know where Burke had been for six months. "Where City Clerk?" he asked.

Mayor Edward A. Crane '35 replied that Burke had been confined to his house and that Healy was legitimately the acting city clerk. "Then who is acting manager?" asked Vellucci. "The City Clerk," replied Crane.

"Who was acting City Manager when the Manager was out of state for two a couple of weeks ago?" Vellucci asked. Crane replied again that it was Burke, the City Clerk.

Vellucci said that he thought Burke was unavailable. Crane replied that if Burke had been unable to handle the job he would have notified the Council that he was unavailable; then the Council would have appointed a department head as acting City Manager.

Vellucci said that that was just what he was wondering about, "Mr. Burke's availability." "After all, Mr. Mayor, we have to answer a lot of questions in this town," he said.

In further election-year action, Vellucci had the Council call in City Manager John J. Curry '19 to discuss a transference of $15,000 to the public works department for temporary employees, some of whom have been employed nine years. (The funds were spent in accordance with last week's Council vote to add $2.40 per year to the salary of these workers until it reaches the minimum wage for permanent employees, $65.75.)

Vellucci wanted to know why temporary employees of such long standing should receive lower than that minimum wage.

"Money, Councillor, Money," answered Curry.