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