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1952 05 29 CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGUTAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYT()WN, TEXAS May 29,, 1952 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on Thursday, May 29, 1952, at 7 :30 P. m. in the Council Room of the City Hall with the following members in attendance: J. A. Ward Mayor R. B. Bergeron Councilman W. E. Lawless Councilman M. L. Campbell Councilman R. H. Pruett Councilman W. D. Reeves Councilman H. M. Campbell Councilman C. D. Middleton George Chandler Edna Oliver City Manager City Attorney City Clerk The Mayor called the meeting to order and the minutes of the special meetings of May 9th and May 24th were read and approved, whereupon the following business was transacted: Group Insurance - Ask for Bids Mr. George R. Cole, Regional Director of the Northwestern National Group Insurance, informed the'couneil that"he had met with the City Employees, in a mass meeting, and explained the reason for the increase in premium rates on hos- pitalization coverage, but due to the increase, they requested that the city advertise for bids, on the basis of the same benefits as shown in the present policy. If the bids of other companies carry the same rate of premium costs, as requested by the Northwestern National Insurance Company, the Employees will decide, whether or not, the insurance will be retained. Councilman Bergeron moved to advertise for bids on Group Hospitalization for City Employees and dependents. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Lawless of Bergeron it M. L. Campbell Pruett " Reeves " He M. Campbell Brundrett - Callahan - Johns - Manville Tra.nsite Pipe Messrs. Brundrett and Callahan, representatives of the Johns - Manville Company, presented the merits of their transite pipe for plumbing installations. They urged the Council to consider amending the city's present plumbing code, to include transite pipe of this type or its equal. They assured the council that the pro- posed pipe would furnish adequate protection and meet all specifications outlined in the plumbing code. It was agreed to review the plumbing ordinance with the idea in mind of making more than one type of vent pipe available to home owners, if it meets all specifications. Franta - Violation No. 1 Fire Zone Ordinance It was brought to the attention of the Council that Albert Franta, local car dealer, had violated the No. 1 Fire Zone Ordinance when he had allowed a small frame building to be moved onto his Used Car Lot on West Texas Avenue at Decker Drive, The Building and Inspection Department had refused to give a permit on the remodel- ing of the building, due to the vuilations, and final decision on the question was referred to the Council. Mr. Franta informed the Council that he was not aware of the violation at the time the building was moved onto the lot, however, he agreed to move a smaller office building off of the lot, and move the building, now in question, 30 feet away from its present location, thus placing it in about the center of the lot. Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to table the discussion temporarily and recommended that a Committee be appointed by the Mayor to prepare proposed amendments to Nos. One and Two Fire Zones, setting forth specifications for similar buildings under similar circumstances. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: ' Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron it Lawless " M. L. Campbell " Pruett " Reeves " H. M. Campbell The Mayor appointed a committee composed of Councilmen Reeves, Pruett and H. M. Campbell. Berlin - Storm Sewer Ordinance The City Manager intoduced and read an ordinance approving the completed plans and specifications on Storm Sewer Improvements. Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to adopt the ordinance as read. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron it Lawless to M. L. Campbell it Pruett it Reeves it H. M. Campbell The caption of the ordinance follows: ORDINANCE NO. 146 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE COMPLETE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS ON PROJECT NO. TEX. 41 -P -1046, STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, PRE- PARED WITH AN ADVANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNDER TERMS OF PUBLIC LAW 352, 81ST CONGRESS OF THE UNITED S TATESS$ APPROVED OCTOBER 13, 19492 AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO INDICATE THIS APPROVAL BY AFFIXING HIS SIGNATURE TO ONE COPY OF EACH THE PLANS AND CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. The schedule of the proposed improvements, to the City Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer Systems, was outlined and presented for approval. The Waterworks Improvements consisted of production and distribution with a cost estimate of $160,009.00. Of this amount $150,950.00 would be the cost of construction and $9,059.00 for Engineering Fees. The suggested procedure on the Waterworks Improve- ments would extend from July 1, 1952, the approximate date of advertisement for bids, until December, 1952, the date of completion of all contracts on Waterworks Improvements. The Sanitary Sewer Improvements would consist of Sewage Treatment Plants and Collection System. The cost estimate, as submitted, would be in the amount of $306,128.00. Of this amount $288,800.00 would be spent on the con- struction and $17,328.00 for engineering fees. The suggested procedure on the sanitary sewer was amended to extend from September, 1952, the approximate date to advertise for ;bids, until February, 1954, the expected completion date on all projects.- Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to accept the proposed procedure, as amended. Councilman lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron it Lawless it M. L. Campbell it Pruett to Reeves It H. M. Cmmpbell Time Deposit - Resolution The City Attorney introduced and read the following resolution: RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO DEPOSIT, FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS, TWO HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND ($217,000.00) DOLLARS IN THE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORY OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN: THAT the City Manager of the City of Baytown is hereby authorized and directed to deposit, in the official depository of the City of Baytown, a total sum of Two Hundred Seventeen Thousand ($217,000.00) Dollars, said sum to be made in four (4) separate deposits and to be identified as follows, to -wit: Capital - General Fund $ 75, -000.00 Capital - Water Fund 50,000.00 Capital - Traffic Improvement 25,000.00 Capital - Improvement Funds 67,000.00 said sun to be placed in the time deposit account for a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days, drawing interest at the rate of 2% from date of deposit. INTORDUCED, READ, and PASSED by a majority of the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, on this 29th day of May, A. D., 1952. `. ayor, Ci ty of Ba�wn ATTEST: Edna Oliver. City Clerk Councilman Bergeron moved to adopt the resolution as read. Councilman Pruett seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron It Lawless if M. L. Campbell It Pruett 'V Reeves " H. M. Campbell Appoint - Members Equalization Board Councilman W. E. Lawless moved to appoint H. G. Corneil, Clifford M. Bond and Carl M. Mann as regular members to the Equalization Board for the year 1952 , and G. V..Daniel to serve as alternate to the Board. Councilman Reeves seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron •" lawless " M. L Campbell " Pruett Reeves '° H. M. Campbell Appoint Civil Service Commission Councilman W. E. Lawless moved to accept the recommendation of the City Manager and appoint A. C. Chaddick, Harold Murphy, and Rev. Ewing McPhail as members of the Civil Service Commission. Mr. Chaddick was appointed for &'three year term, Harold Murphy, a two (2) year term and Rev. McPhail a one (1) year term. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless It M. L. * Campbell to Pruett It Reeves it H. M. Campbell Equalization Board The City Attorney introduced and read an ordinance appointing a Board of Equalization to serve for the year 1952 and fixing the time of the first meeting of the Board. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to adopt the ordinance as read. Councilman Reeves seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: A A Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless M. L. Campbell " Pruett " Reeves " H. M. Campbell The caption of the ordinance follows: ORDINANCE NO. 10 / AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING A BOARD OF EQUALIZATION TO SERVE FOR THE YEAR 1952; FIXING THE TIME OF THE FIRST MEETING OF SAID BOARD AND AU`HORIZING SAID BOARD TO EXERCISE THE POWER AND FULFILL THE DUTIES CONFERRED UPON IT BY THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. Drilling Permit Councilman W. E. Lawless moved to approve the drilling application of the Limestone Oil, Inc. on the Gulf Fee, subject to the final approval of insurance and bond by the City Attorney. Councilman Pruett seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron it Lawless It M. L. Campbell ". Pruett Reeves If H. M. Campbell Strickland — Telephone Rate Increase Robert Strickland, Attorney for the Telephone Company, petitioned the Council to allow the proposed Telephone rate increase to go into effect immediately, prior to the billing date of June 21st. He proposed to furnish the City with a bond, thus assuring the Council that any charge made over the rate increase allowed by the Council, at the time of the hearing, would be refunded to the individual customers. The City Manager informed Mr. Strickland that the delay in the hearing was caused by Mr. Owsley. Quite a bit of time would be required for Mr..Owsley to complete his exhibits and figures from the audit of the Company's books, as submitted by Mr. Lewis, City Controller, The Mayor informed Mr. Strickland that the City was in no position to grant his petition, before an official decision was made, however, the City Manager was instructed to contact Mr. Owsley and request that he complete his exhibiti6n as quickly as possible. A tentative date for the Telephone Hearing was set for June 17th. Salary Adjustments It was agreed to defer any action on the salary adjustments until a later date. The Mayor asked the Council th meet Monday, June 2nd for an informal study and discussion on the salary increase request. Adjournment Councilman Pruett moved to adjourn. Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned, e5- k^,v Una O ver, i y er /r . Waff., Mayor