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1967 06 01 CC Minutes, Special4360 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 1, 1967 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in special session an Thursday, June 1, 1967 at 6:15 P.M., in the Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendance: . . . • Patrick Ball Councilman Glen Walker Councilman ° Don M. Hullum Councilman Albert Fanestiel Councilman Lamar Kelley Councilman Seaborn Cravey Mayor Fritz Lanham City Manager Edna Oliver City Clerk Absent: A. M. Braswell Councilman George Chandler City Attorney The meeting was called to order by Mayor Cravey and the following business was transacted: - Bids -- Signals and Controllers - Decker Drive Traffic Sionalizatim Two bids were received on the signals and con trollers to be used in the completion of the signalization of Decker Drive at Garth Road extension, Memorial Drive and Lobit Street. They are tabulated as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Ball, Hullum and Kelley Mayor Cravey Nays: None Bids - Pavino Roadways and Parkina Areas - City Hall and Civic Center Four bids were received on construction of roadways and parking areas for new city hall and civic center located on Market Street. They are tabulated as follows: Name Signal Engineering Company 60 days delivery $4,543.25 $118,994.80 Crouse -Hinds Company 90 days delivery $4,612.74 119,355.00 Councilman Ball moved to accept the low bid of Signal Engineering Company. Council- Skrla, Inc. man Kelley seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Ball, Hullum and Kelley Mayor Cravey Nays: None Bids - Pavino Roadways and Parkina Areas - City Hall and Civic Center Four bids were received on construction of roadways and parking areas for new city hall and civic center located on Market Street. They are tabulated as follows: Name - Base Bid Alternate Bid Brown G Root, Inc. $118,994.80 $ 92,202.00 Steele Construction Company 123,192.50 119,355.00 Gulf Bitulithic Company 126,755.00 110,911.00 Skrla, Inc. 139,391,00 104,925.00 It was the recommendation of the engineer, A. J. Busch, Jr., that the contract be awarded to Brown G Root, Inc. on the basis of the low alternate bid. Councilman Hullum moved to approve the recommendation and awarded the contract to BrowiG Root, Inc., - amount , $92,202.00. Councilman Ball seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Ball, Hullum and Kelley Mayor Cravey Nays: None ° Councilman Ball and Hullum were excused from the meeting in order to attend a pre- viously arranged meeting-with members of the Baytown Police Association regarding their salary and benefits increase request of April 27th. 4361 Informal Hearing General Telephone's Service in Baytown As a preface to the informal telephone hearing, Mayor Cravey asked that each person desiring to be heard give his name, address and telephone number and limit his presentation in order to five time for others to present their comments. In order not to be repetitious, if any comments are made by others which coincide with planned remarks of the yet seated subscriber, a nod of the head or other affirmative signals may give confirmation of the comments. Mr. C. E. Moore of 7021 Bayway Drive, was the first to be heard. He complained of the billing methods on long distance calls, his inability to get telephone service when it rains and the proposed increase in telephone rates when extended area service goes into effect. Miss Gwen Wright, Highway 146, complained of crank calls, service disr 4ions due to rain and inability to get the long distance operator. Mr. Andrew Spence of Crosby, gave a lengthy re- port of his many conflicts with General Telephone Company and the excessive charges levied by the Company for installing telephone facilities in his home. He complained that even after the telephone was installed the service was so poor until he was un- able to hear the calling party and was forced to use a Southwestern Bell paylhone some distance from his home for clear communication service. Steele McDonald of ,Mc- Donald & Herbert Insurance Company commended the Company on its expansion program pro- jected for Baytown and praised the local management and personnel for the service rendered his company and the community. M. Cecil Bobbitt, local CPA, submitted petitions to the Council bearing the sig- natures of approximately 1,000 General Telephone subscribers, stating they are of the studied and considered opinion that the level of service of this telephone utility is grossly inadequate and substandard to that provided in adjacent areas. They urged the Council to take whatever steps it can to upgrade the service of this utility and to refuse to renew such utility's franchise which expires April, 1971. Mr. Bobbitt stated that similar petitions are being sent to the Federal Communications Commission, Senator Ralph Yarborough and Senator John Tower. He further stated that based on an audited financial statement of the Company it could afford to upgrade its services. The finan- cial statement shows a shareholder investment of $76 million and a plant investment of $170 million according to Mr. Bobbitt. Councilman Walker moved to accept the petitions presented by Mr. Bobbitt. Councilman Kelley seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Walker, Kelley and Fanestiel Mayor Cravey Nays: None Mr. M. C. (Buddy) Bray, local beer distributor charged that his company would go broke if he gave his customers the type service the Telephone Comapny renders to its subscribers in Baytown. Rufus Honeycutt, local theater manager, reported that he had trouble with his telephone once or twice weekly. However, the local manager, E. 0. Combern, is cooperative and sends someone to fix the telephone - but subh repair is only temporary as the service disruptions recurs repeatedly. Messrs. E. 0. Cambern, local manager, and W. A. Leigon, division manager, were present to hear the complaints and answer any questions directed to their attention. Mr. Leigon gave a report on the expansion which is now progressing and stated that he was of the opinion that interruptions caused by rain should be reduced to a min- imum when the new cable installation is completed in Baytown by the end of 1967. Both acknowledged that service had been disrupted during the present expansion program but expressed hope that Baytown will have superior service by the end of the year. Many of the disruptions have resulted from the carelessness of the contractor in repairing the Main Office building of the.General Telephone Company which house so much of the sensitive operational equipment - particles of dust can disrupt service and this has been one of the major problems during the expansion of the building facilities. Mr. Cambern promised that service teams would visit each person who has complained and will try to work out the specific difficulties. Adiournment The motion was made and seconded that the meeting adjourn. The ayes were unanimous and the meeting was adjourned.. (� 4,u• e✓ (SFI �_ - Edna Oliver, City Clerk