Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/19/55 October 19, 1955 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washing- ton was held in the Mayor's Office, C~ty Hall at 10:OO A.M., October 19, 1955. Mayor H.O. Domstad presiding with Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk NcGowan, City Attorney Holland, Water Superintendent Casad, Mr. Box of the Chamber of Commerce Jack Hollingsworth and representatives of the radio and press in attendance. Miss Cullln was absent. Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as written, carried. The City Clerk read notice of employment for Howard E. Walters, Leading Pipe- man, $2.01 per hour, Water Department. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad to approve the employment, carried. The Gity Clerk read change in pay for felix A. Bontempo from Extra Labor to Meter Repairman at $320.00 ~er month. Notion by Mr. Domstad and ~r. Wheaton to approve the change in pay, carried. The City Clerk read an application for a pinball location license for the Sport Center, under the master license of Anchor Sales and signed by Raymond Rus- sell, 108 Washington Avenue. Notion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. Wheaton to approve the application, carried. October 19, 1955 (Con't) The City Clerk read payroll voucher for period ending October 15, 1955 in the amount of $40,524.62, payroll warrant Nos. 60095 through 60540. Motion by Mr. ~heaton and ~r. Domstad to~pprove the voucher, carried. The City Clerk read letter from Police Chief Lewis in which .he recommended that a change be made in the punch board tax stamp procedure. Attached was a sug- gestion from Patrolman F.C. Johnson, which Chief Lewis recommended the Council con- cur in. Patrolman Johnson suggested that instead of the Treasurer's Office selling Trade Stimulant Stamps to cover the amount of tax due on each punch board and which are to be glued on the back of each board but seldom are, the Treasurer should have the licensed distributor~brlng the boards into the Treasurer's Office and have them stamped on the back with ahhand stamp showing the receipt number and the amount of tax paid on each board. Mr. McGowan stated he felt that this was a good idea and said that it had been discussed several months ago but nothing was done about it. Mr. Domstad stated that in Seattle the boards are stamped by a machine before they are put out in public. Mr. Holland stated that no amendment to the present punch board ordinance was necessary because it now provides that the Treasurer may formulate rules not incon- slstant with the ordinance to facilitate it's enforcement. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr.~eaton that a hand stamp, showing the receipt number and amount of tax paid, be uaed on the punchboards and authorizing Miss Odden to have a stamp made and follow the.above procedure, carried. The City Clerk read three letters from Police Chief Lewis, the f irst recommend- ed the cancellation of Jack C. Stocker's cab owners license and taxi driver's per- mit, which covers the Black and Yellow Cab Company under the provisions of Section 14, Ordinance No. 1929. The second letter recommended that Ella Marie Hegdahl's Taxi Driver's permit be cancelled under the provision of Section 1, Ordinance No. 1755. The third letter recommended that Russell 0. Minuis, Taxi Driver's permit be cancelled under the provisions of Section 1, Ordinance No. 1755. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. ~eaton to give at least ten days notice to the above persons that their taxi drivers permits have been cancelled and informing them ~hat their hearing date ~as been set for 10:00 o'clock A.M. on November 9, 1955, car- ried. The City Clerk read a letter'from Edwin A. Henderson, an inmate of the Veter- and Hospital at Vancouver, Washington, in which he proposed the construction of a waterway from Hood Canal to North Bay. The City Clerk read a letter from Captain Denys ~. Knoll, Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Roanoke, in which he stated how much they were looking forward to their arrival in Bremerton. Enclosed with the letter was a picture of the ship and a copy of the ship's history. The City Clerk read proposed ordinance providing for the creation and estab- lishment of a special fund to be known as the Union River Development Construction Fund, for the betterment of the City ~ater Works and the bui~d~in~ of & st~r~ge dam on the Union River, providing for the deposit of funds there~ ~d t~e~r~n~er of funds thereto and providing for disbursements from said funds. Motion by Mr. ~heaton and Mr. Domstad to approve the ordinance on first read- ing, carried. The City Clerk read a letter from City Engineer Severance in which he recom- mended that two deeds, one dedicating a portion of the required right of way for Nipsic Avenue and one dedicating a portion of the required right of way for ~ickey Road be recorded and accepted by the Council. Motion by ~r. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad to concur in the Engineer's recommenda- tion, carried. Mr. Wheaton reported that they are making headway on the installation of the new National Avenue pipeline, which will replace the old wooden line. M Mayor Domstad asked Jack Hol~ingsworth if he had anything to say and he asked what pro~ress had been made by the City to determine the City's right to raise the water rate on individuals. It was to be investigated but he has never heard any- more about it. Mr. Holland's opinion is that the City can't raise the rates for the purpose of raising money for the General Fund. Mr. Hollingworth stated that still leaves some doubt as to the question that he asked. ~id the City receive an answer from the Bond Attorneys when they inquired. Mr. Holland stated that ~hey had received an answer but they did not answer all parts of the question. Mr. Hollingworth asked is there any possibility that the City Council might have to resort to that means of raising money. Mr. Domstad stated that the Chamber of Commerce is working on the problem of raising more money and he hopes that they will come up with an answer. Mr. Hollingsworth asked if the City mighb Jump into this means of raising the money. October l~, 1955 (Con't) Mr. Domstad stated that he couldn't make a statement until a legal answer is given. It was asked if the taxation committee has t tied to get an opinion from the Attorney General. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that he is afraid the City is playing with time on this and it looks like they are in a tough financial spot, and the Council will have to raise the water rates if no other alternative comes up. He asked if they could say that they will do this. Mr. McGowan stated that Mr. Hollingsworth meant, will the City Council raise the water rates to transfer the fund to the General Fund. Mr. Wheaton stated that he is not in favor of this. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that the City is faced with a problem of raising the money and in the background the suggestion has been made to raise the water rate to meet the budget deficiency. Is the Council still thinking about using that as a last resort? If it is illegal it won't be done but if it is legal are you tak- ing it under sonsideration? Mr. Casad said that he was pretty sure that if the water rates were raised the consumers outside the city limits would have the City involved in a court case. Mr. Hollingwworth feels that the City is thinking of raising the water rates. Mr. Wheaton stated someone will have to come up with a definite opinion. Mr. Holland sta~ed that the Attorney General said that a water department can't be operated at a profit, and the Supreme Court said that public utilities can't be operated at a profit~ He also stated that the City will have to deter- mine what would be a reasonable rate to raise it to, but the Attorney General may not agree¥~with the rate. Mr. Holland said he knows it is against the law to in- crease the Water Rates to pay for the operation of the City but they could be raised to pay for the Water Department bills. Mr.' Domstad stated that this week is United Nations Meek and a luncheon will be held at the Elks Club on Friday Afternoon. Mr. Box of the Chamber of~ommerce asked if the flags should be displayed on Friday the 21st rather than on Monday the 24th of October. Mr. Casad asked that the City Clerk be authorized to call for bids on lO,O00 of 3/4" copper tubing for the Water ~epartment. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad to authorize the City Clerk to call for bids on the tubing, carried. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. Wheaton that the bills be paid, carried. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. Wheaton that the meeting be adjourned, carried, APPROVED: ~ City