1949 01 06 CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE,REOULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TERAS
January 6, 1949
The city council of the city of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on
January 6, 1949 at 7140 p.m. in the council room of the Baytown city hall with
the following members in attendance:
E. D. Cleveland Mayor
H. I. Davis
Councilman
0. 0. Dorris
Councilman
Robert . Strickland
Councilman
J. A. Stroud
Councilman
Weldon H. Williams
Councilman
C. Darwin Middleton
City Manager
David Donoghue
City Attorney
Edna Oliver
City Clerk
Absents Fahy Godfrey
Councilman
The mayor called the meeting to order, and the minutes of the regular
meeting of December 21, 1948 were read and approved, whereupon the following
business was transacteds
Auditor's Report
The council deferred its reply on the auditor's report until a later
meeting as the councilmen did not have sufficient time to study the audit submitted.
Health Ordinance
The reading of the proposed Health Ordinance was postponed until the
regular meeting, January 20, 1949. The proposed ordinance was lengthy and the
copies were delivered to the councilmen too late to give sufficient time for
study.
Fire Marshal Ordinance No. 35
At the request of the city fire marshal, T. H. Bounds, the city attorney
introduced and read an ordinance prescribing rules and regulations for Mortion
Picture Theaters in the City of Baytown. The mayor asked the council its wishes
relative to action on the proposed ordinance. Several councilmen objected to a
portion of Section 5, °seats° wSeats shall be so arranged that there will not be
more than tem in line be ween aisles, nor more than four (4) between any seat and
aisle" and Section 8 ('Audience" It No person shall be allowed to stand in or oc-
cupy the foyer,wetc. Councilman Strickland asked that Mr. Howard
Brdnson, Manager of the East Texas Theaters, Inc., be recognised and state his
reaction to the ordinance. Mr. Brunson expressed his approval of any ordinance for
the safety and protection of their patrons. He introduced Mr. Bob Park, a Beau-
mont attorney and representative of the East Texas Theaters, Inc., who told the
council that the management of the local theaters would be glad to cooperate in
any and all steps for the safety of the public. He said that he had ordinances,
in his possession, from several cities and he would be glad to visit with the
city attorney and discuss, in detail, every phase of the proposed ordinance. He
seemed to think that the ordinance could be strengthened. The city attorney
made an appointment with Mr. Park for a conference on Tuesday of the following
week. No action was taken on the ordinance at this meeting.
The caption of the ordinance is as follows°
ORDINANCE NO. 35
AN ORDINANCE PRESCRIBING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR
MOTION PICTURE THEATERS IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN;
PROVIDING PENALTIES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; REPEALING ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT THEREWITH;
PROVIDING THAT THIS WRDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF AND IN
ADDITION TO ALL pT4ER ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
BAYTOWN; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFcECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
W. W. Hunt - Telephone Company
I
January 6, 1949 119
Mr. W.W. Hunt, District manager of the Southwestern Associated Tele-
phone Company, appeared before the council and gave and extensive report of
the improvements made by the company since V J Day. The local system now has
78 operators on the payroll, their heaviest shift being during the day from 8
A.M. to 9 p.m., with nineteen (19) operators on duty; 9 to 10 p.m. with ten
(10) operators; 10 to 10:30 with six (6) operators; 10:30 to 11 p.m. with five
(5) operators; 11:00 p.m. to 6 a.m. with two (2) operators. The system has
18 long distance lines to Houston, three (3) having been ddded during 1948, four
(4) to Beaumont, eight (8) to Highlands, two (2),to Crosby, two (2) to Barbera
Hill and one (1) to Galveston. The new building, now under construction, will
be ready for occupancy in July and work will begin immediately on the Dial Sys-
tem for greater Baytown. If all the equipment on order can be obtained, Mr.
Hunt told the council he was sure the Dial System would be in operation by January,
1950. The present telephones, now in use, could be easily changed to the Dial
System, however, the major portion of the installation would be in the switch-
boards. He reported that telephones were being installed as rapidly as possible
at present. Recently work had to be discontinued on installation of telephones
due to lack of space at the switchboard for additional operators. The council
expressed Its thanks to Mr. Hunt for his interesting and informative report.
City Manager Miscellaneous Reports
The city manager reported that he had contacted Mr. J. J.Rady, Consult-
ing Engineer, of FteWorth, who would appear before the council at the regular
meeting of January 20, 1949 and make his proposal on the long range improve-
ment program for the city.
According to the city manager, the Karpark Corporation had notified
'their Installation Engineer, Frank Hollingsworth, to be in the city by January
10th to begin installation of parking meters.
The swimming pool engineers had reported that the pool was 84% complete.
They planned to have all work completed by the last of January or the first of
February.
North Main Sewer Line
Councilman Stroud asked the city manager about installing a sewer line
on North Main Street as:the property owners had approached him on this subject.
He was informed that this had.not been included in the budget as necessary in-
stallations for the fiscal year 1948 -49, and no appropriation had been allowed
for the work. Councilman Strickland told the council that he was under the im-
pression that this installation was included in the year's budget at the same .
time the Grace Methodist Church, Parka Building, Fayle Apartments and Danubina
Acres appropriation was made. A check in the minutes failed to reveal this
provision:.
Councilman Dorris moved that the meeting adjourn. Councilman Williams
seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the mayor declared the meet-
ing adjourned.
Mayor, Ci y 01 IJaytO=, Texas
ATTEST:
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