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1952 12 30 CC Minutes3S MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS December 30, 1952 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on Thursday, December 302 1952 at 7:30 p. m. in the Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendance: J. A. Zard Mayor R. B. Bergeron Councilman W, E. Lawless Councilman Milton L. Campbell Councilman H. M. Campbell Councilman C. D. Middleton City Manager Edna Oliver City Clerk Absent: R. H. Pruett Councilman W. D. Reeves Councilman George Chandler City Attorney The Mayor called the meeting to order and the minutes of the regular meeting of December 11, 1952 were read. Councilman Milton L. Campbell asked that the minutes regarding the request for additional help in the Health Department be amended to read: "A request for an appropriation for an additional employee had been made during the budget review." With this correction the minutes were approved as read, whereupon, the following business was transacted: Resignation - Gordon Lewis - Retainer Basis The City Manager presented the following inter- office memorandum from Gordon Lewis: "I have been offered and have accepted a position with a substantial increase in salary. This is to be effective as of January 10th, 1953. • I have worked two and one -half years helping to build up the City of Baytown's records and system to its present efficient operation and I would like to present the following suggestion and prqposal to help in its continued progressive maintenance: that I'(be placed on leave of absence status for a period not to exceed one year,)that I be paid a salary of $100-.00-per month and for this consideration I would accomplish the monthly work of posting the General Ledgers, prepare the monthly adjusting entries, prepare the monthly financial statements and all interim reports, reconcile the bank accounts, and maintain the Bond Ledgers. This work I could do in the evenings and Saturday afternoons and Sundays if necessary. I would relinquish accounts of my private accounting practice to allow time for this work. I would be available also by telephone during the day to help whenever I could. Other details of my duties could be evenly distributed to others of our very capable and competent accounting personnel. Advantages of this arrangement: Municipal accounting is highly specialized and the availability of accountants from this pool is very limited. This arrange- ment would relieve the necessity hiring a replacement who would require a minimum of six months training in this field of accounting. Save the City of Baytown $300.00 monthly in this classifications. Continue without disruption the current maintenance of control records. Continue without disruption the preparation of Monthly reports. Continue without disruption the constant preparation for the Semi - annual Audits. I wish it to be understood that this offer is made with respect too and in consideration of the best interests of the City of Baytown. When I started work for the City of Baytown two and one -half years ago records and systems were non - existent and I am distinctly proud of the great strides and accomplishments made within that period as evidenced by the complimentary remarks by the examining Auditor consistenly in every Audit report. If this does not meet with favorable approval then I respectfully submit this as my resignation effective as of January 10th, 1953 and believe me when I say that I-have enjoyed my work, the association that I have had with the entire personnel of the City of Baytown and I regret leaving." 1 Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " lawless " H. M. Campbell " M. L. Campbell Car and Truck Bids The bids as submitted on the two (2) ton truck chassis were opened and they are tabulated as follows: Company Gulf Coast Motor J. B. Hollaway Buck Turner Thad Felton Higginbotham Motor Co. Franta Motor Co. Stake Amount 1953 Upon the recommendation-of the City Manager, Councilman Lawless moved that 2,117.79 the proposal be accepted as presented and that Mr. Lewis be placed on leave of r absence status for a period not to exceed one year, month. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. at a salary of $100.00 per The roll call vote was as or 1953 GMC follows: 1953 GMC 2,412.91 1 Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " lawless " H. M. Campbell " M. L. Campbell Car and Truck Bids The bids as submitted on the two (2) ton truck chassis were opened and they are tabulated as follows: Company Gulf Coast Motor J. B. Hollaway Buck Turner Thad Felton Higginbotham Motor Co. Franta Motor Co. Stake Amount 1953 Dodge $ 2,248.50 1953 Studebaker 2,117.79 1953 Chevrolet 2,085.08 1952 Ford 2,198.50 1952 or 1953 GMC 2,338.89 1953 GMC 2,412.91 Councilman Bergeron moved to purchase the Chevrole t two(2) ton chassis from Buck Turner for $2,085.08, but the motion died for lack of a second. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to purchase the Dodge two (2) ton truck chassis from Gulf Coast Motor Company at a cost of $2,248.50. Councilman lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: - Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Lawless Nays: Mayor hard ". H. M. Campbell Coun. Bergeron Councilman M. L. Campbell declined to vote. He explained his action by asking for performance records of all type trucks before a purchase is made. The Council discussed this ouestion at length. Upon consent of all car dealers preseht, the bids on the two -ton truck chassis and the two one -half ton trucks were recorded but final action was deferred on the purchase of same until the compiled figures are made available to the Council. The bids on the Fire Chief's car were opened and they are tabulated as follows; Comoaz; 1948 Ford y Make Trade- in Amount Gulf Coast Motor Co Franta Motor Co. Thad Felton Paul Prince BulckCo. Higginbotham Motors Buck Turner Chevrolet 1953 Dodge Meadowbrook 1953 Cambridge Plymouth $ 1953 Fordor Sedan 1953 41D Buick 1953 Cambridge Plymouth 1953 Chevrolet The bids on the Police cars were opened and they are tabulated as follows: $ 1,681.41 5oo.00 1,708.75 ( 6 cyl.) 1,245.00 ( 8 cyl :) , 1,298.00 580.00 1,856.49 407.00 1,472.37 1,747.78 The bids on the Police cars were opened and they are tabulated as follows: 1951 Ford 1952 Plymouth Company Make Trade -in Trade -in Amount Buck Turner Chevrolet 1953 Chevrolet 7 7 $ 892.90 Gulf Coast Motor Co. 1953 Meadowbrook 790.45 Dodge 7 7 2,152.82 Pranta Motor Co. 1953 Cambridge 8 800.00 -. 1,159.65 Plymouth - 1,050.00 -: 909.65 Thad Felton Ford Agency 1953 F'ordor Ford ? 7 (6 cyl.) 1,532.00 (8 cyl.) 1,732.00 Chief McKee presented his performance records on a Plymouth and a Ford operating in the Police Department, after which Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to purchase the 8 cylinder Fordor Ford from Thad Felton for the Fire Chief for 41,298.00 and the two Plymouths from Higginbotham Motor Company for the Police-Department at a total cost of $1,475.81. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor surd Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless " M. L. Campbell rr H. It. Campbell The bids on the tvo (2) one -half ton pick-up trucks were opened and they are tabulated as follows: Company 1951 Ford 1952 Plymouth Amount Company Make Trade -in Trade -in Amount Higginbotham Motor Co. 1953 Cambridge $ 841.00 1953 $ 935.81 Plymouth 2,885.10 13236.81 540.09 Paul Prince Buick Co. 1953 41D Buick 1 11280.00 975.72 Fordor Sedan 13113.00 2 1.142.72 Chief McKee presented his performance records on a Plymouth and a Ford operating in the Police Department, after which Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to purchase the 8 cylinder Fordor Ford from Thad Felton for the Fire Chief for 41,298.00 and the two Plymouths from Higginbotham Motor Company for the Police-Department at a total cost of $1,475.81. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor surd Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless " M. L. Campbell rr H. It. Campbell The bids on the tvo (2) one -half ton pick-up trucks were opened and they are tabulated as follows: Company Make Quantity Amount Gulf Coast Motor Co. 1953 B4 Dodge 2 $ 23797.00 Higginbotham Motor Co. 1953 GMC 2 2,885.10 Buck Turner Chevrolet Co. 1952 Chevrolet 1 13327.10 Franta Motor Co. 1953 GMC 2 2,715.45 Thad Felton Ford Agency 1952 Ford 1 6 cylinder 13371.03 1 8 cylinder 1,421.00 Foundation Bids The foundation bids for the 100,000 gallon elevated tank were opened and they are tabulated as follows: Maxwell Construction Company $ 7.210.00 South Texas Engineering Company 7,181.25 _ Brown & Root Construction Co. 61887.00 Councilman M. L. Campbell moved that the bids be recorded but�no.further action be taken pending further study of same �y the Council. Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The bids were discussed and the Mayor suggested that the bids be considered and some definite action be taken at this meeting. Councilman M. L. Campbell agreed to withdraw his motion with the consent of his second,.after which Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to accept the bid proposal of Brown & Root Construction Company on the elevated tank foundations in the amount of $6,887.00 and instructed the engineer to prepare the necessary instruments for final execution of the contract by the City Council. Council- man Lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Maybr:Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron 't Lawless !' M. L. Campbell H. M. Campbell Bids = Billing Machine - Water Department Only one bid was submitted on the advertisement for a billing machine for the Water'Department. It is tabulated as follows: Burroiughs Style F401, Electric Utility Billing Machine Net Price - 30 days $ 2,502.50 Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to purchase the machine. Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: A-.ves : Mayor Ward Nays: :tone Councilman Bergeron it Lawless 11 M. L. Campbell !' H. M. Campbell i T r T eSS�/ Transfer Ordinance The City Manager presented an ordinance authorizing the transfer of $539.29 to Classification 1002 -2 -9. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to adopt the ordinance as read and 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 " H. M. Campbell The Caption of the ordinance follows: ORDINANCE NO. 170 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO TRANSFER FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY -NINE DOLLARS AND TWENTY -NINE CENTS FROM THE UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS WATER: FUND TO CLASSIFICATION 1002 -Z -9. Drainage Ditch - Intersection Missouri Street and Spur 201 The City Manager made a report to the Council of a letter received from the State Highway Department on the request of the Council for the installation of a storm sewer in the ditch at the intersection of Missouri Street and Spur 201. Jim Douglas, District Engineer, acknowledged receipt of the letter requesting such installation, however, he insisted that the Highway Department did not agree with the Council in the contention that storm sewer drainage is necessary at the location. He stated that the engineering department did not feel that the problem was of such magnitude as to warrant expenditure of the money required, but, if the City of Baytown insisted in the matter of storm sewer installation, the Highway Department would attempt to incorporate the work in the existing contract provided the City would provide the necessary funds. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to instruct the City Manager and Mayor to go to Austin and discuss this need with the State Highway Commissioner. 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 H. M. Campbell Dossey Report - Approved Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to accept the semi -annual audit report of T. E. Dossey, Jr., Certified Public Accountant, and 4:prove the statement of revenues and expenditures of the City of Baytown as of September 30, 1952, Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mavor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron " Lawless " M. L. Campbell " H. M. Campbell Insurance - The City Council met with representatives of the Baytown Insurance Exchange and C. M. Bond, independent agent, concerning the city's insurance coverage for the fiscal year 1952 -53. The Baytom Insurance Exchange had carried all coverage for the city for several years and it was the contention of Mr. Bond that he be given a fair share of the city's insurance business. After much discussion, Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to give Mr. Bond the Blanket Employees position bond, Swimming Pool Public Liability and a new policy covering valuable papers and accounts. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Naysr None Councilman Bergeron it Lawless It M. L. Campbell It H. M. Campbell SW Mayor Ward, Councilman Bergeron and City Manager Middleton will meet with representatives of the Insurance Exchange to discuss changes in the amount of coverage under the newpolicies. Miscellaneous The Council discussed the request of probationary officer, C. 0. Davis, to be returned to active duty in the police department. Mr. Davis had been employed on July 1, 1952, and suffered a heart attack several weeks later. He now desires to return to active duty. The Civil Service Rules and Regulations requires a physical examination of all probationary officers and each candidate must pass-a physical examination to the.satisfaction of the City Health Officer. Dr. Crossman, City Health Officer, had advised the City Manager not to reinstate Mr. Davis. It was agreed to let the City Attorney draw up an opinion as to whether or not Mr. Davis is covered by Civil Service Regulations. Adjournment Councilman Pergeron moved for the meeting to adjourn. Councilman Lawless seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. ((Ar }}rTTEST: b(� Edna Oliver, City Ulerk A. Vlard,'Mayor I I