MAYER CLAIMS PUBLIC CANNOT BEAR EXPENSE

 MAYOR CLAIMS PUBLIC CANNOT BEAR EXPENSE

Cites Reason for Denying Wright Retirement Pleas Under Veterans' Act

Northampton, July 14--The request of Teacher-Coach David S. Wright to retire from the faculty at Northampton High School under the veterans' retirement fund was turned down by Mayor Cahillane "because the taxpayers would not be able to stand the extra expense."

So remarking Mayor Cahillane yesterday when informed that Legion officials are seeking advice from state headquarters in Boston as to what possible steps Wright may take to have his request approved. Wright, a teacher in the local system for 37 years and a well-known basketball coach for nearly 30 years, was forced to retire with a disability at the close of the school term last month.

It was pointed out that Wright can retire under the teacher's retirement fund, to which he has contributed during his many years of service to the school system, and receive approximately $200 annually. That money would be provided by the state ad with no expense to the city.

However, if he retires under the veterans' pension fund, he would only receive approximately $3600 annually but that amount would have to come from the city. At the same time, Wright would be eligible to collect between $8000 and $9000 in a lump sum, which he paid into the teachers' retirement fund.

Mayor Cahillane said. "I am very fond of Dave Wright and we both understand the problem. He knows his request was turned down because of the added expense to the taxpayers. But he wont be doing badly with $4200 coming in each year."

City Auditor John Curran backed up the mayor's decision and and said there are tooo many veterans in the city who would take advantage of the veterans' retirement fund, if approval was given to a certain few. Curran, it was said, handles the accounts for the veterans under the retirement pension system.