1967 03 31 CC Minutes, Special4316
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
March 31, 1967
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in special session on Friday,
March 31, 1967 at 5:30 p.m.. in the Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with the
following members in attendance:
Absent:
Patrick Ball
Don M. Hullum
A. M. Braswell
Albert Fanestiel
Raymond T. Donnelly
Seaborn Cravey
Fritz Lanham
Edna Oliver
C. M. Massey
George Chandler
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Mayor
City Manager
City Clerk
Councilman
City Attorney
The Mayor called the meeting to order, the Invocation was offered, afterwhich
the following business was transacted:
Adopt Ordinance - Awarding Contract Improving North Main - Gulf Bitulithic Company
Councilman Donnelly moved to adopt an ordinance awarding the contract for the
improvement of North Main Street, from Morrell to Baker Road, to Gulf Bitulithic
Company and appropriating funds to pay the City's share of the costs of improvement
under said contract. Councilman Braswell seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Ball, Hullum, Braswell, Fanestiel and Donnelly
Mayor Cravey
Nay.s: None
The caption of the ordinance follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 859
AN ORDINANCE DETERMINING THAT CERTAIN ACTIONS HAVE HERETOFORE BEEN
TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF NORTH MAIN STREET, FROM
THE NORTH PROPERTY LINE OF MORRELL AVENUE NORTHERLY TO THE SOUTH PRO-
PERTY LINE OF BAKER ROAD EXTENDED EASTERLY. .IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS,
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING ALL SUCH ACTIONS HERETOFORE SO TAKEN; ACCEPTING
THE BID, OF, AND AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO, GULF BITHULITHIC COMPANY, A
DIVISION OF WARREN BROTHERS COMPNAY, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAID IM-
PROVEMENT; APPROPRIATING AVAILABLE FUNDS OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS
TO PAY THE CITY'S SHARE OF THE COSTS OF SAID IMPROVEMENT UNDER SAID CON-
TRACT; APPROVING THE CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION THEREOF ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY; APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE PERFORMANCE BOND AND
PAYMENT BOND, HERETOFORE EXECUTED BY SAID GULF BITULITHIC COMPNAY AND ITS
SURETY IN CONNECTION WITH SAID CONTRACT; DIRECTING THE CITY'S ENGINEER
TO PREPARE AND FILE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL CERTAIN ESTIMATES OF THE COSTS
OF SAID IMPROVEMENT, AND OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION IN CONNECTION THERE-
WITH; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
Authorize Representation Austin in Protest HB 879
I
Councilman Braswell moved to authorize a member of the Council, preferably
the Mayor, to go to Austin, Tuesday, April 4, to oppose HB No. 879 in the Legislature.
Councilman Donnelly seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Ball. Hullum, Fanestiel, Braswell and Donnelly
Mayor Cravey
Nays: None
1
9317
Cole - Proposal Ambulance Service
At the regular meeting March 30, Mayor Cravey informed the Council of receiving
a call from a Mr. Walsh who had asked to appear before the Council and submit p pro-
posal for ambulance service for Baytown without a subsidy. The Council was interested,
a 4)ecial meeting was set to receive the proposal. Before introducing the speaker,
Mayor Cravey explained that he had been mistaken in the name.-.the person to appear
was Mr. Cole of the Superior Ambulance Service of Houston. Mr. Cole explained that
his company had turned in no bid at the time proposals were first received in November,
1966 for ambulance service. He was now prepared to offer service if the Council would
accept his proposal. He elaborated at length on his credentials, the service he would
render, the basic rate he would charge plus additional assessment according to services
rendered, the protection he wanted from the City etc. He concluded with a proporal for
his firm to come into Baytown at the present subsidy fee of $6,000 being paid Belfort
Ambulance Company - but stipulated that he would rebuild the ambulance service business
to a point that no subsidy would be needed in two or three years. To this, Councilman
Donnelly stated that the City presently has a valid contract with Belfort and it cannot
be broken legally unless Belfort fails to provide the services outlined in the contract.
Mr. Cole informed the Bouncfl that he had information, which could not be publicly
told, that Belfort will terminate its contract within 90 -days. The Council discussed
many relating factors involved in the operation of ambulance service. Later Councilman
Braswell proposed making some changes in the requirements set forth by the City in
the manning of the Belfort Company - reduce from three to two ambulances per day for
two shifts and one ambulance on the graveyard shift, since the City cannot continue
with its present subsidy of $6,000 per month - this to be done on a trial basis of one
month. Councilman Donnelly suggested that this should not be done until a conference
has been held with Mr. Camp regarding the possibility of reducing his operations by
ow ambulance and /or reverting back to the original contract. Since representatives
were in the audience, Councilman Ball proposed a 15- minute recess in order to con$
With Mr. Camp relative to the proposal submitted by Councilman Braswell.
After the meeting reconvened, the Council heard from Mr. Joe Speck, owner of
Earthmen Funeral Home, who had formerly operated ambulance service, together with
Paul U. Lee Funeral Home, for the citizens of Baytown. He was forced to discontinue
this service on January 1, 1967 due to the tremendous loss but stressed the need of
such an important and vital service for the safety and welfare of the community. In
1966, his company suffered a loss of $16,260 of which $7,200 was for unpaid calls.
Due to the recent changes in federal wage and hour laws, it became impossible to operate
ambulances and he felt that the public has been misinformed and did not realize all
of the facts involved in the operation of ambulance service. He defended the City's
present operator, Mr. Camp of Belfort Ambulance Company, but felt that he is reluctant
to invest further finances in the Baytown operation due to the many controversies
that hay a arisen since the funeral homes had discontinued this type service, and his
contract had been approved. He concluded with a recommendation that the City continue
the contract with the present operator. Mr. Speck was asked several questions by members
of the Council relative to cost, what other cities are doing, etc. Later Councilman
Donnelly reported that it will be necessary to hold one more meeting with Mr. Camp before
the proposal offered by Councilman Braswell can be resolved. Councilman Braswell
then moved to continue the City's contract with Belfort Ambulance Company on a perdiem
basis and make every effort to resolve the problem within a 10 -day period. Councilman
Fanestiel seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Ball, Bullion, Fanestiel, Braswell and Donnelly
Mayor Cravey
Nays: None
Adjournment
There being no further order of business to come before the Council, the motion
was made and seconded that the meeting adjourn. The ayes were unanimous and the meeting
adjourned.
Edna Oliver, City Clerk