And Independent Councillor Thomas W. Danehy said Duehay should refrain from assessing Walsh or another councillor's record, saying he did not want the council to become an arena for members to pass judgement on each other.
"I have never seen that happen in the 22 years that I've been here," Danehy said.
Political Football
Walsh also drew criticism from Graham for referring to the departure of the school as a "black eye" upon the city.
"Please don't call it a black eye," she said.
Graham said she did not want her name to appear on the order because she was concerned that the racial questions underlying the Commonwealth Day matter had been buried in local politics.
"I don't want the African-American people to be used as a football in a political campaign," said Graham, who is retiring from the council this year.
Graham said the Commonwealth Day debate opened up a variety of questions about racism, classism and sexism in the city, adding that the council should provide a more practical forum than city elections to discuss these issues.
"This is an open sore now," she said. "This is a sore which has to be drained."
The council did not vote directly on Walsh's order because it questioned the legality of removing names from the petition. Instead, it referred the order to the Zoning Board of Appeal.
Loitering at 'T' Stops
In other business, the Council:
.passed an order asking City Manager Robert W. Healy to meet with the Harvard Square Youth Commiteee to discuss ways to alleviate "the constant loitering of youths at the entrances of the `T' stops" and "the constant harassment that is inflicted on the citizenry as they traverse Harvard Square." The measure was sponsored by Councillor Walter J. Sullivan
.asked Healy to provide a list of the criteria for creating new appointments and positions in city agencies in effect since Gov. Michael S. Dukakis announced a hiring freeze in August to compensate for the loss of more than $210 million in state aid to Massachusetts cities and towns. Walsh sponsored the order.
.ordered that Healy not eliminate the volunteer program at the Cambridge Hospital, where layoffs have been announced as a result of the budget cuts. The order was sponsored by Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci.