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