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1955 05 26 CC Minutes� 94� MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY CF BAYTOWN, TEXAS . y May 269 1955 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on Thurs- day, May 26, 1955 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. in the Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendance: Absents R. H. Pruett R. B. Bergeron P. H. Mears H. M. Campbell +' M. L. Campbell Al Clayton Lacy Lusk A. V. Barber George Chandler Edna Oliver C. D. Middleton Mayor Councilman e ounc ilman Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilman Acting City Manager City Attorney City Clerk City Manager The Mayor called the meeting to order. The minutes of the regular meeting of May 12, 1955 were read. The minutes concerning the laying of the sewer line to the proposed subdivision being developed by F. A. Richardson were amended to reads "The city to pay the difference in cost of the change -over from the 8 -inch concrete pipe to the 10 -inch vittified clay pipe; the line to be installed the most feasible route which is from present city trunk line north to Davis Road, then along Davis Road to property line of proposed subdivision, etc." With this amendment Councilman Clayton moved to approve the minutes as read. Councilman Lusk seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll.Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: Hone " Bergeron- " H. M. Campbell " Clayton Lusk Mayor Pruett Councilman Lusk moved to approve payment of the J. J. Rady & Co., estimate in the amount of $625.51 - Goose Creek Interceptor, Sanitary Sewer. Councilman' H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None " Bergeron " H. M. Campbell " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to approve payment of the J. J. Rady eco., estimate in the amount of $638.75 - Indiana Street Storm Sewer. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Calls Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None " Bergeron it H. M. Campbell It Clayton it Lusk * Councilman M. L. Campbell arrives at meeting. City Judge Girardeau met with the Council and asked that the city give some financial assistance, if possible, to the County in the improvement of the interior of the courtroom. He proposed that the city buy new chairs for the court room and new covering for the floors. An estimate had been received on the chairs in the 7,97, amount of $389.41 and the Grade C asphalt tile floor covering was $134.40. He ex-, plained that the County had approved a similar amount to be used in the improvement project, and the Corporation Court Committee recommended that the city cooperate in the improvements outlined. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to accept the re- commendation of the Committee; the expenditure by authorized with the Committee making final disposition of the old chairs now being used; the City Manager be in- structed to prepare an appropriation ordinance covering the total expenditure with the appDopriation to be taken from the Unappropriated Surplus Traffic Improvement Fund. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows% .Roll Calls Ayes: Councilman Mears Nayss None it Bergeron it H. M. Campbell " M. L. Campbell rr Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett Dri ling permit - Ra. A. Welch Councilman H. M.Campbell moved to approve the drilling application of the R. A. Welch Co., on the Ashbel Smith Land, 'dell No.•15. Councilman H. L. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Calls Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None of Bergeron It H. M. Campbell to M. L: Campbell to Clayton it Lusk Mayor Pruett Dividend Check - Northw stern Nationale Ina, Co Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to accept the dividend check from the North- western National Life Insurance Company in the amount of $323.34; the suggestion of the representative, W. G. Wilson, to increase the life insurance coverage on employees from $1,000 to $2,000 be tabled until budget review. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Calls Ayess Councilman Mears Nays% none " Bergeron It H. M. Campbell it M. L. Campbell to Clayton it Lusk Mayor Pruett A group of residents from Danubina Courts No. 2 met with the council concerning the elimination of a drainage ditch lying on the west side of Danubina and abutting their property. In some places they reported the ditch as 3' wide and 51 deep and to eliminate this they wanted drainage with curb and gutter. The Mayor instructed H. S. B rlin, engineer, to make a survey of the area in question relative to cutting down the street from East Texas Avenue to Davis Road and to prepare a cost estimate to submit to the Council for further consideration and final disposition of the request. Wolowski - Subdivision DRvel.MWnt Mrs. T. Wolowski again met with the council concerning her request for the city to proceed with the development of certain streets which were dedicated to the county in a plat filed in 1941, and on record as of that date. The City Attorney reported that he had checked the county plat records, as of this date, and only one street, Nolan, is shown on the log of street dedications. He further staffed that since the parties that filed the plat had made no attempt to develop the subdivision since 1941 may prove that the city can plead the Law of Limitation. Mrs. Wolowski expressed a desire to proceed with the development of the subdivision if the project would not prove to be too expensive. The Mayor referred her to Mr. Berlin for estimates on water & sewer lines, curb & gutter, fire hydrants, etc. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to authorize the Mayor to appoint a Committee to work with the City Attorney on the request of Mrs. Wolowski. Councilman Lusk seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followss 199 Ro11,Calls Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None " Bergeron " M. L. Campbell " He M. Campbell " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett The Mayor appointed a Committee.composed of Councilmen Me L. Campbell and- He M. Campbell to work with Mr. Chandler on the Wolowski request. $pMoMiation Ordinances Councilman H. Me Campbell moved to adopt.an.ordinance authorizing the �- appropriation of $93.44 from the Council Contingent Fund to cover automotive insurance. Councilman M. L. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayess Councilman Mears Nays: 11 one. it Bergeron It H. M. Camftell it M. L..Campbell It Glayton if Lusk Mayor Pruett The caption of the ordinance follows: ORDINANCE NO. 274 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE' CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO APPROPRIATE NINETY -THREE DOLLARS AND FORTY -FOUR CENTS ($93.44) FROM THE COUNCIL CONTINGENT FUND TO,CLASSIFICATION 702 F -3A. Councilman Bergeron moved to adopt an ordinance authorizing the appropriation of $32,525.00 from the Anticipated Water Surplus Fund to aover contract for drilling new water well, engineer's fee, running power and deed line ,to new well from old well and new water lines and fittings. Councilman H. Me Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call:Ayess Councilman Mears Nays: none it Bergeron it He M. Campbell " Me L. Campbell " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett The caption of the ordinance follows: ORDINANCE NO. 275 AN ORDINANCE IWJIMZING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO APPROPRIATE THiORTY -TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY -FIVE DOLLARS ($329525.00) FROM THE ANTICIPATED WATER SURPLUS FUND TO CLASSIFICATIONS 1001 Y -10 AND 1002 Z-9. The following resolution was introduced and reads A RESOLUTICN BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN MHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER,OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO TRANSFER TWO HUNDRED DOUARS ($200.00) FROM THE COUNCIL COOT INGENT FUND TO CLASSIFICATaON 106 F -6. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN: THAT the City Council of the City of Baytown hereby resolves that the City Manager of the City of Baytown be authorized to. transfer Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) from the Council Contingent Fund to Classification 106 F -6, travel expense for City Attorney. INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of a majority of the City Council of the City of Baytown on this 26th day of May, A. De, 1955. ATTEST s /s/ Edna Oliver City Clerk it /a/ R. H. Pruett _ Mayor r li r 9,94 Councilmen Bergeron moved to adopt the resolution as read. Councilman Lusk seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Ca11:Ayes. Councilman Mears Nays: None " Bergeron " H. M. Campbll " M. L. Campbell " Llayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett Councilman H. M Campbell moved to instruct the City Clerk to advertise for bids on a new car foi the city attorney with bide to be opened at the next regular meeting of the council. In asking for the bids, the City Clerk was instructed to in- clude the consideration of the trade -in of present car driven by the city attorney, a 1947 Fordor Chevrolet Sedan. Councilman M. L. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followwas Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None " Bergeron It H. M. Campbell It M. L. Campbell " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett The Street Lighting Committee made recommendation to the Council that two (2) additional 15s OOO lumen mercury vapor lamps, mounted on suspension bracket, be authorized for installation on Decker Drive opposite the San Jacinto Memorial Hospital. Councilman M. L. Campbell moved to approve the recommendation of the Committee and the installations be authorized. One light to be installed at the intersection of Decker Drive and West Lobit Street and the second installation at the intersection of Decker Drive and West Sterling Street. Councilmen Mears seconded the motion. The roll sally ate was as followss Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Mears Nays: None " Bergeron " H. M. Campbell " M.L. Campbell " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett The City Manager submitted a memorandum to the Council concerning his contact *ith merchants relative to eliminating the twelve minutes for one penny parking meter time. He explained that it was the consensus of opinion of the merchants that the penny for twelve minutes causes confusion and misunderstanding as well as violationy, and if eliminated, it would not affect ttie operation of the meters. After some discussion Councilmen Bergeron moved to refer the request to the Corporation Court Committee for observation and study. A report will be made on the findings of the Committee at a later meeting. Councilman M. L. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nayss None " Bar e It n n Mayor gar on H. M. Campbell M.L. Campbell Clayton Lusk Pruett In another memorandum the City Manager reported that he had contacted R. M. Johnston and L. F. Kent relative to the storm sewer easement parallel to their property and explained that if an easement was not granted the city would consider taking steps to condemn the property. Mr. Johnston agreed to an easement but Mr. Rent and wife objected to the drainage line and suggested that the line be laid in the division line between the abutting properties thus involving four (4) rather than two (2) property owners. The City Manager recommended that the land n needed be taken from the four abutting properties if such condemnation is supported by the Council. The Council deferred notion upon the request of Mr. Murph, resident of Cedar Bayou, to connect with the city's water service line. He explained that he owned approximately 20 acres of undeveloped land which he wanted to sell in acre lots. He proposed to lay a 2 -inch water line, at his expense, approximately 2,300 feet iniorder to provide water service for this area. He agreed that if the 2 -inch water line was not of sufficient size to provide ample water pressure that he would make installation of a 6 -inch water main if the city so recommended. The Mayor asked Mr. Murph to allow the council a period of time to study the request. He was asked to attend the next meeting. The Council discussed the proposal to close the City Hall on Saturdays at great length. Since the three banks and Harris County Building & Loan Association had announced their intention of closing all day.Saturday, beginning the 4th of June, the heads of the utility companies had contacted the Councilmen and Mayor relative to closing the city hall also in order fg$ the Utility Companies to close. At present their =at= is as the city's, to open offices until noon on Saturdays. Most of the councilmen did not favor closing the city hall At this time since it would be impossible to work out a schedule to allow all employees to participate unless more man -power was added to the Police force, Fird Department and possibly the Garbage Department, or the same schedule be maintained and over- time be paid to those having to work longer than a 49-hour -week basis. Councilman M. L. Campbell proposed that the council go on record as favoring the closing of 6 the City Hall on Saturdays and a Committee be appointed to work out.the details with Mr. Middleton and the various department heads, however, his proposal was overruled by a majority of the Council. After much discussion it was agreed that the city was not ready at the present time to slose the city hall-:on Saturdays; the question will be discussed during the time of the budget review. Councilman M. L. Campbell moved for the meeting to adjourn. Councilman Mears seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. Edna ,Cliver, City Clerk R. 'Ii. Pruett, Mayor I 7 k.