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