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1952 06 12 CC Minutes1 ui The City Thursday, Jun Hall with the MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS June 12, 1952 Council of the City of. Baytown, Texas, met in regular session on June Absent: 12, 1952, at 7:30 p. m. in the Council room of the Baytown City following members in attendance: J. A. Ward Mayor R. B. Bergeron Councilman W. E. Lawless Councilman M. L. Campbell Councilman R. H. Pruett Councilman # H. M. Campbell Councilman C. D. Middleton George Chandler Edna Oliver 'fl. D. Reeves City tanager City Attorney City Clerk Councilman The Mayor called the meeting to order and the minutes of the regular meeting of May 29, 1952 were read. Councilman M. L. Campbell asked that the minutes re- garding the Franta Violation of the No. 1 Fire Zone Ordinance be amended to read: "And recommended that a Committee be appointed by the Mayor to prepare proposed amendments to the Building Code as effecting the Nos. 1 and 2 Fire Zones." With this correction the minutes were approved as read and -the following business was transacted. Committees Clean Up Programs A group of home - owners, from Leavins Addition, appealed to the Council to take definite steps to clean out Martin Ditch. The ditch is being used for drainage purposes and extends from North Main to North Pruett Street. H. N. Love, spokes- man for the group, informed the Mayor that the residents, adjoining the ditch, would gladly assist the City in whatever program most feasible for immediate cleaning of the ditch. It was suggested that a bulldozer be used as far as possible but much of the work would have to be done by hand labor, and if possible, drainage pipe should be installed in the ditch and properly covered over to eliminate the recurrance of such filth. The Mayor informed the delegation that the City was financially unable to buy pipe and install in the ditch, however, he promised the city's cooperation in cleaning the ditch if the - County, who holds the easement, refuses to assist in the project. Should the residents in the direct vicinity, affected by the ditch, desire to purchase the necessary amount of drainage pipe required to completely drain the ditch, the city would furnish labor and equipment to install, cover and level to grade. A group, headed by Councilman Bergeron, agreed to meet with George Scott, Superintendent of Harris County Flood Control for Easi-Harris County, and present the urgent need of the cleaning of the ditch before the City took action on the project. Alma McNulty, spokesman for a group, petitioned the Council to clean out and install the necessary concrete pipe to drain a ditch west of Horace Mann School near Harding Street, The County, who holds the easement, recently en- larged the ditch, without the consent of the residents, and the ditch is now so clogged with filth, weeds and debris of all kinds until drainage is impossible. The group insisted that the ditch not only be cleaned out, but, pipe be installed and covered over to eliminate the problem. The Mayor informed the group that the city could not purchase and install the pipe, but the ditch would be cleaned out by the City if the County refused to do so. A member of this group was appointed to join Councilman Bergeron and members of the first delegation when they met with George Scott. St. John's Methodist Church - Drainage John Fulton, Steward for the St. John's Methodist Church, asked the Council to furnish and install sufficient drainage pipe to cover a ditch along Seventh Street, adjoining the Church, as per an agreement with the City Council in October 1950. By way of explanation to the present Council, he reviewed the agreement. In 19415 the St. John's Methodist Church purchased Lots 6 & 7, Block I1, Jones Addition from Mrs. Bessie Trifon. Some $600 in delinquent taxes were waived by the City Commission of the City of Pelly at the time of the purchase owing to the fact that the purchaser was a religious organization. In 1950 the Church agreed to sell this property and buy, at a more desirable location, however, it was found that a clear title could not be furnished the purchaser until the delinquent taxes, that were waived, had been paid. The Council agreed to accept payment of the taxes,and furnish`a proper tax receipt showing the payment of the taxes, however, the Church would be reimbursed an equal amount in improvements to the grounds, etc., if and when the church was ready for such work to be done. Councilman Pruett moved to purchase and install 150, of 24" concrete pipe in the ditch along Seventh Street, adjoining the Methodist Church, thus fulfilling an obligation of the City pursuant to an agreement with the Church on tax problem in the year, 1950. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron to Lawless It M. L. Campbell it Pruett Strickland - Telephone Rate Hearing Due to a delay in the tentative date set for the Telephone Rate Hearing, Robert Strickland, Local Attorney, again petitioned the Council to allow the Telephone Company to install the proposed rate increases as of June 21st billing and the Company will furnish the city with a bond, thus.assuring the Council that reimbursement will be made to customers, should the Council chose to allow only a portion of the rate increase request at the time of the official hearing. He further stated that the Council had not acted in good faith by a continued delay in the date of hearing. The Council was granted a five (5) minute recess for closed discussion, after which, Mayor Ward informed Mr. Strickland.that the Council had declined his request. Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to set final date of hearing for Tuesday, July 15th, 1952, at 9 :00 A. M. in the Council Room of the City Hall, Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Calls Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron it Lawless it M. L. Campbell it Pruett Pay Councilmen - Hearings Councilman M. L. Campbell moved that each councilman be paid $25.00 for each day of service rendered during the Telephone Rate Hearing. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron It Lawless of M. L. Campbell it Pruett Drilling Permits Councilman Pruett moved to approve the transfer application of the Houston Oil Well Service Company on the Troxell Well No. 3. Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Y Councilman Bergeron '0 Lawless " M. L. Campbell of Pruett Councilman Pruett moved to approve the Foretich Well Service application on the Bryan Lease, subject to final approval of the insurance and bond by the City Attorney. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron .. " Lawless " M. L. Campbell " Pruett Councilman Pruett moved to approve the Boger, Johnson and Strong application on the H. L. Reynolds Lease subject to final approval of the insurance and bond by the City Attorney. Councilman Lawless 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 Purchase - Lots Councilman V. L. Campbell moved to purchase Lots 5 & 6, Block 1, Rosel ) Addition from Steele McDonald, Realtor. The price of the lots, plus the processing costs, was $3,067.50. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless M. L. Campbell " Pruett Insurance Bids The Hospitalization and Life Insurance Bids were opened and read. Four (4) companies were represented in the bids submitted, namely, Northwestern National Life Insurance Company, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and united Bankers. Each bid, as submitted, differed in premium costs, for single employee, employee and one dependent and employee and multiple dependents. Representatives from each company were heard, afterwhich, it was suggested that the Mayor appoint a committee to meet and analyze each bid, in it's relationship to the requirements set forth in the bid advertisement. After the Committee has analyzed the bids, a meeting can be held with all employees for final decision on the most feasible Insurance Plan to endorse. The Mayor appointed a committee composed of City Manager Middleton, Councilman M. L. Campbell and A. C. Chaddick, local Insurance man, to study the group insurance bids. * Councilman H. M. Campbell enters the meeting. Municipal Retirement - Police Department Action was deferred on the petition of the Police Department to be excluded from the Municipal Retirement Plan recently passed by the City Council. The City Manager was instructed to get an opinion from the Director of the plan, Dean Gorham, before taking final action on the request. Raise - City Employees A schedule of salary adjustments for city employees was presented for Council consideration and approval. The departments included in the proposed wage schedule raise were the street, sewer, garage, garbage and water departments, of the Public Works Division, Fire, Police, Water Department - Administrative and Tax Office - Administrative. Councilman Bergeron moved to accept the recommendation of the City Manager and approve the pay increase of the City ehployees, as presented, with the exception of Sewer Plant Operators. An additional raise of $10.00 per month was granted the four (4) plant operators. The raise to be retroactive to June 1, 1952. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " W. E. lawless " M. L. Campbell " Pruett " H. M. Campbell The Mayor appointed M. L. Campbell, W. E. Lawless and H. M. Campbell as a Committee to make a thorough study of the present salaries of all employees, including Department Heads, prior to the budget review date. City Manager - Meeting Councilman Lawless moved to approve sending the City Manager to the 38th Annual Conference of the International City Managers Association to be held in Kansas City, Missouri, September 28, 1952 through October. 2,.1952. Councilman Pruett seconded the motion. The Roll Call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless " M. L. Campbell rr Pruett " H. M. Campbell Adjourn: Councilman Lawless moved to adjourn. .Councilman Pruett seconded the motion. The Ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. l , ar , Mayor aver.., City Clerk