City Council of Boston v. Mayor of Boston

Upon report under Mass.R.Civ.P. 64, 365 Mass. 831 (1974), and stipulated facts, we are asked whether the mayor of Boston had absolute veto power in matters of reorganization of city agencies and departments. We conclude that he does.

Examination of the plain words 3 of the pertinent statutory material has not been helpful; they point in quite contrary directions. Nor has the problem of interpretation been much advanced by recourse to the customary chestnuts of statutory construction, e.g., giving effect to all the statute’s provisions, so that none will be superfluous, 4 effecting the…