1952 12 11 CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS
December 11, 1952
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on
Thursday, December 11, 1952 at 7:30 p. m. in the Council Room of the Baytown City
Hall with the following members in attendance:
A. V. Barber Acting City Manager
George Chandler City Attorney
Edna Oliver City Clerk
Absent: C. D. Middldon City Manager
The Mayor called the meeting to order and the minutes of the regular meeting
of November 18, 1952 and the special meetings of November 24 and December 9th were
read. Councilman Bergeron asked that the minutes of the special meeting regarding
the purchase of the Emery Harbers' Water System in Rio Vista be amended to read:
"In addition to the $1,000.00 paid Mr. Harbers, Mr, R. E: Paul will be paid $64.05
for his share of pipe in the Water System." With this correction, the minutes
were approved and the following business was transacted:
Rate Increase Request - Houston Natural Gas Corporation
H. F. Massey, District Manager for the Houston Natural Gas Corporation,
presented an application for rate increase for the Houston Natural Gas Corporation.
He read a letter which set forth the reasons for the increase request, together
with an exhibit of revenues from sale of gas, plant service in Baytown, current
cost of distribution mains and services in place, current cost of meters in
place and in warehouse and current cost of regulators in place and in warehouse.
The requested rate increase was 13.1 per cent of all gross revenue. Jack Hines,
Attorney for the Corporation, explained the need for an increase at this time and
informed the Council that the Corporation had hired an independent auditing
concern, H. Zindler and Associates, of Dallas, to prepare the exhibit that had been
presented. A representative of the auditing concern explained the schedule of
revenues and expenses set forth in the exhibit. When asked the reason for using
the calendar year 1951, as set forth in the exhibit, the representative explained
that the Corporation's fiscal year ended in July and the calendar year 1951 was
used in order to present a clearer picture of consumption in relation to weather
conditions. The Mayor requested Mr. Massey to prepare a schedule of gas rates in
comparable cities and present a copy of the schedule to each councilman, Mayor and
the City Manager and City Attorney. City Attorney Chandler informed the Council
that a state statute provides gas companies with the right to appear before the
Railroad Commission with a rate request if a city does not gran t a hearing within
60 days of the request, however, Attorney Jack Hines had agreed to waive the
Company's right to a hearing within 60 days from the date of December 11th due to
the coming Christmas holidays and the telephone rate hearing scheduled for December 18th.
He agreed that the date be shown as January 15, 1953, with an expiration date of
March 15th. Mr: Hines informed the Council that the Company had taken months to
prepare the exhibit for a rate increase request and he urged the Council to take
action upon the request at the earliest possible date.
COrdinance - Transfer
The City Attorney presented an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to
transfer $1,064.05 from the Unappropriated Surplus Water Fund to Classification
1002 -2 -9, and $500 from the Council Emergency Fund to Classification 101 -G -1.
Councilman Bergeron 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
" M. L. Campbell
" Lawless
" Pruett
" Reeves
" H. M. Campbell
J.
A.
Ward
Mayor
rR.
B.
Bergeron
Councilman
IW.
E.
Lawless
Councilman
-
M.
L.
Campbell
Councilman
R.
H.
Pruett
Councilman
W.
D.
Reeves
Councilman
H.
M.
Campbell
Councilman
A. V. Barber Acting City Manager
George Chandler City Attorney
Edna Oliver City Clerk
Absent: C. D. Middldon City Manager
The Mayor called the meeting to order and the minutes of the regular meeting
of November 18, 1952 and the special meetings of November 24 and December 9th were
read. Councilman Bergeron asked that the minutes of the special meeting regarding
the purchase of the Emery Harbers' Water System in Rio Vista be amended to read:
"In addition to the $1,000.00 paid Mr. Harbers, Mr, R. E: Paul will be paid $64.05
for his share of pipe in the Water System." With this correction, the minutes
were approved and the following business was transacted:
Rate Increase Request - Houston Natural Gas Corporation
H. F. Massey, District Manager for the Houston Natural Gas Corporation,
presented an application for rate increase for the Houston Natural Gas Corporation.
He read a letter which set forth the reasons for the increase request, together
with an exhibit of revenues from sale of gas, plant service in Baytown, current
cost of distribution mains and services in place, current cost of meters in
place and in warehouse and current cost of regulators in place and in warehouse.
The requested rate increase was 13.1 per cent of all gross revenue. Jack Hines,
Attorney for the Corporation, explained the need for an increase at this time and
informed the Council that the Corporation had hired an independent auditing
concern, H. Zindler and Associates, of Dallas, to prepare the exhibit that had been
presented. A representative of the auditing concern explained the schedule of
revenues and expenses set forth in the exhibit. When asked the reason for using
the calendar year 1951, as set forth in the exhibit, the representative explained
that the Corporation's fiscal year ended in July and the calendar year 1951 was
used in order to present a clearer picture of consumption in relation to weather
conditions. The Mayor requested Mr. Massey to prepare a schedule of gas rates in
comparable cities and present a copy of the schedule to each councilman, Mayor and
the City Manager and City Attorney. City Attorney Chandler informed the Council
that a state statute provides gas companies with the right to appear before the
Railroad Commission with a rate request if a city does not gran t a hearing within
60 days of the request, however, Attorney Jack Hines had agreed to waive the
Company's right to a hearing within 60 days from the date of December 11th due to
the coming Christmas holidays and the telephone rate hearing scheduled for December 18th.
He agreed that the date be shown as January 15, 1953, with an expiration date of
March 15th. Mr: Hines informed the Council that the Company had taken months to
prepare the exhibit for a rate increase request and he urged the Council to take
action upon the request at the earliest possible date.
COrdinance - Transfer
The City Attorney presented an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to
transfer $1,064.05 from the Unappropriated Surplus Water Fund to Classification
1002 -2 -9, and $500 from the Council Emergency Fund to Classification 101 -G -1.
Councilman Bergeron 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
" M. L. Campbell
" Lawless
" Pruett
" Reeves
" H. M. Campbell
6-,46
The caption of the ordinance follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 169
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING Tim CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF
BAYTOWN TO TRANSFER FIVE HUi'JDRED ($500) DOLLARS FROM THE
COUNCIL EMERGENCY FUND TO CLASSIFICATION 101 -G-11 FOR THE
PURPOSE OF AIDING THE BAYTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY; ALSO ONE
THOUSAND SIXTY -FOUR DOLLARS AND FIVE CENTS ($1,064.05) FR01t
THE WATER FUND UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS TO CLASSIFICATION
1002 -Z -91 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THE PRIVATELY 0`NNED
WATER SYSTEM IN RIO VISTA SUBDIVISION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE
EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
Berlin - Estimate Foundations - Elevated Tank
H. S. Berlin, Engineer, presented an estimate in the amount of $7,650.00
for city laying foundations for 400,000 gallon elevated steel storage tank which will
be located at the corner of James and North Seventh Streets. The estimate was
based on furnishing all labor, materials, excavating, and site grading. After some
discussion, Councilman Reeves moved to authorize the City Manager to advertise for
bids on foundations for 400,000 gallon elevated steel storage tank. Councilman
Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor ►hard
Councilman
It
it
it
it
It
Bergeron
Lawless
M. L. Campbell
Pruett
Reeves.
H. M. Campbell
Rules and Regulations - Civil Service
Nays: None
The Civil Service Rules and R gulations were reviewed: The City Attorney
informed the Council that the correction had been made in the height and weight
requirements. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to adopt the Civil Service rules
and regulations as amended. Councilman M. L. Campbell 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
it Reeves
it H. M. Campbell
Billing Machine - Water Department
The Council discussed the purchase of a billing machine for the water department.
A Burroughs Sensinatic Billing Machine had been demonstrated and it was agreed that
the machine would save considerable time in the billing and posting of water accounts.
Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to purchase the machine at a cost price of $2,502.90.
Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The Mayor informed the Council that the
machine could not be purchased without first advertising for bids since the Charter
stipulated such procedure. Councilman M. L. Campbell withdrew his motion and
Councilman Lawless withdrew his second, after which Councilman M. L. Campbell moved
to authorize Acting City Manager Barber to advertise for bids for a•billing machine
with certain designated features. 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
Pruett
Reeves
" H. M. Campbell
Public Health
The Council reviewed the request of City Sanitarian Odis Muennink for an
Assistant in the Health Department. Mr. Muennink explained that so much of his time
was taken up in handling complaints until he was forced to postpone the most important
items such as inspection of all cafes, hotels, etc. An appropriation had been
made for an additional employee in the department during the budget review.
Councilman Reeves moved to authorize City Sanitarian Muennink to hire an assistant,
with the approval of the City Manager, to start as of January 19 1953. The City
Manager was instructed to set up a salary schedule of $275.00 per month plus $50.00
car expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year beginning as of January 1, 1953.
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
_ Reeves
H. M. Campbell
Closing Office - Christmas Holidays
Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to approve the closing of the City Hall, for
the Christmas holidays, from Wednesday, December 24, 5:00 o'clock p. m, until Monday,
December 29th, 8:00 o'clock a. m. All persons retained on the emergency crews will
be granted compensatory time, however, this can not be added to vacation time.
Councilman lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor.Ward Nays: None
Councilman Bergeron
lawless
M. L. Campbell
m Pruett
n Reeves
Councilman H. M. Campbell declined to vote.
Miscellaneous
The Council set the meeting time of the next regular meeting of the Council
for 6:00 o'clock p, m. The insurance groups interested in presenting a bid on the
Fire and Windstorm Coverage for City buildings will be heard at this time.
Director of Public Works Grantham was asked to prepare an estimate on the
cost of draining the area fronting the Chruch of Christ on Virginia Street, East
Baytown Subdivision. Also the elimination of stagnate water on East James at Fifth.
Adjournment
Councilman M. L. Campbell moved that the meeting adjourn. Councilman Reeves
seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting
adjourned.
arB a�
V.a , Mayor
Attest:
CYO
ver, y C er c
r_