"Some people are feeling that the city councilis not doing its work, and I think we are," shesays. "No one has fallen down."
A Little Apathy?
espite the heated debate between some of thecouncillors, others remained noticeably silent atthe meeting.
"There were four who never said a word,"Gardner says, referring to Russell, Toomey, Reevesand Sullivan, who did not express any opinion onthe subject.
"I was going to speak when I voted," saysSullivan, justifying his silence.
And Russell says she did not speak because she"didn't want to prolong [the discussion] anymore"and because the council is not empowered to forceWalsh's resignation--the decision is his alone.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 279, Section30 requires public officials to forfeit officewhen sentenced to prison for a felony. Walsh hasbeen convicted but will not be sentenced untilJune 23.
Until then, Walsh, though a convicted felon,has a legal right to occupy office, regardless ofany resolution passed by the council.
"We can pass orders till the cows come home,"Russell says. "The law is clear--the seat does notbecome vacant until sentencing."
But Triantafillou says she was disappointed inwhat she calls her colleagues' failure to voice anopinion.
"It's like putting loyalty above the good ofthe council. I don't think that is particularlygood government," she says. "[They should] atleast put on the record their reasons for doingthis. Defend him, or defend the process."
The Damage Is Done
ussell says she was also disappointed by thecouncil's treatment of Walsh at Monday's meeting.
"There wasn't an ounce of kindness in thecouncil last night," she says. "It was terrible. Idon't like kicking a man when he's down."
But others say the council has shown enoughconsideration for Walsh not only during his trial,but also after his conviction.
"Those who filed the motion requesting him toresign were trying to give him a chance to do theproper and honorable thing [by waiting a monthafter his conviction to call for hisresignation]," says R. Philip Dowds who thepresident of the Cambridge Civic Association.
"When it became clear that he had no intentionof doing that, they took matters into their ownhands," he adds.
But even Walsh's resignation may not be enough,Duehay says.
"In a sense, it really isn't satisfactory thathe resign," Duehay says. They damage has alreadybeen done."