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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/51 January 10, 1951 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington, was held January 10, 1~51 at 10:00 o,clock A.M~, in the Mayor's Office, City Hall, Bremerton. Mayor Kean presiding and Commissioner Haddon, Com~issioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, City Treasurer Nutter and City Attorney Wallace being present. Paul Ryan, Assistant Editor oi' the Bremerton Sun was present for part of the meeting~ and Harold Staley, Business Agent of the T~amster's Union was present. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve minutes of recessed meeting of December 29, 1950, regular meeting of January 5, and recessed meetings of January 5, 1951 as written, carried. Mr. Jack Nandevilie, Chairman cZ' the March of Dimes Drive, was present and requested permission to use the addressograph machine to address envelopes for March of Dimes campaign and said no stuffing was involved but just addressing envelopes, ~otion by ~r. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to approve, carried. Hal Peterson and John Gibson, members of the insurance committee, were present and gave the Clerk a letter to read. Clerk read the letter dated January 10, 1951, signed by Hal D. Peterson, Chairman, and John W. 8ibson, Secretary, submitting proposals for!~he'Oouncil's consideration in connection with the City's fire insurance~ as follows: (1) Renew ~he fire insurance in dividend paying companies; (2) Secure~an appraisal of City properties by a qualified appraiser; (5) eliminate City docks from blan- ket fire schedule and insure separate for amounts set forth by City Council. ~al Peterson explained that the committee will later study the other in- surance requirements of the City. Mr. McGowan stated he was not read~ to make a recommendation but the letter should be referred to the Committee of the Whole. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to refer the report of the insurance committee to the Committee of the Whole and the City Clerk and Purchasing Agent, carried. Clerk read application for location license for pihball machines from Jamss Vallela, Drift Inn, 204 First Street, formerly Fred's Tavern, which had a license, approved by the Chief of Police. Notion by Mr. Kean and Nr.Wheaton to grant the license, carried. January 10, 1951 (Con't) Clerk read applications for renewal of location licenses for pinball machines from: Whitey,s Tavern, Coney Island Lunch, George's Cafe, Cheerio Tavern, Rialto Bowling, Palace Billiards, DeLuxe Tavern, Pantry Shelf Cafe, Top Hat Cafe, Last Chance Tavern, Pounds Cafe, Mix After Six Shop, Charles- ton Club, Service Tavern, Travelers Cafe, Charlie's. Place, Ted's Lunch, In and Out, Lippert D~ug Co., Bluejacket Tavern, Crossroads Drive-In, Sulli- van's Tavern, Twin's Cafe, Jacobsen's Tavern, Alibi Tavern, The White Pig. Tavern, Olympic Recreation, Avalon, Bremerton Bowling Recreation and Anchor, ali approved by the Chief of Police. Motion by Mr. Kean ~ud ~r. Wheaton to grant the licenses, carried. Clerk read applications Ibr locations of Trade Stimulant Devices from: George C. Stichler, Washington Grocery, 538 Washington Avenue; Alvin Hanson, Al,s Grocery, 1048 Fourth Street; James G. Herdman, Jim's Stop N.~. Shop, 123 S. Callow; all approved by Chief of Police and City Treasurer. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to grant the licensee, carried. Clerk read application for Wholesaler License for Trade Stimulant De- vices from: James A. Hood, 1323 Park Avenue, Custom Sales Company, approved by Chief of Police and City Treasurer. Also Wholesaler application for the General Supply Company 210 Burwell. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve, carried. Clerk read application for Operator's License for Trade Stimulant De- vices from: James A. Hood, Custom Sales Co., 1323 Park Avenue, approved by Chief of Police and City Treasurer. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to grant the license, carried. Clerk read payroll voucher for period ended December 31, 1950, $36,344.10, audited by City Auditor. Motion by Mrs. Haddon and ~r. Kean to approve the voucher, carried. General Claim Voucher was read by Clerk from Lents, Estimate No. 5,L.I.D. 2~2,: I'or $5,945.79, approved by City Engineer and auditied by City Auditor. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kemn to allow the Estimate, carried. Clerk read letter dated January 9, 1951, I'rom Mayor Kean to the City Clerk stating that in accordance with applicable State Law and City Charter, he has appointed 01ur Johnsen as Municipal Judge for the City effective Jan- uary 8, 1951, and upon his filing oath of office and bond he will be entitled to receive the compensation provided for that office. Clerk read letter dated January 9, l~51 from the United' States Department of Co~nerce relative to building permits for projects , the construction of which, is now controlled by the Rational Froduction Authority. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to note contents of the communication and refer to the Commissioner of Public Works and Utilities, carried. City Treasurer reported he has been checking on establishments having trade stimulant devices and he has to lift only one board for failure to lic- ense; however, the location was licensed but the board was not stamped and had no distributor's license number on it. Discussion was held on the size of prizes on the boards and no action was taken to limit the size oi' prizes. Mr. Nutter stated he was not ready yet to make any recommendations re- lating to the ordinance but was getting some ideas and would later'bring them up to the Council. City Attorney read letter he received from Aaron E. ~'oraker, 108 S. Sum- mit, asking how much power the ~ealth Department has. Letter stated there is a septic tank and drainage trouble at lll So. Lafayette, which has been re- ported t o the Health Department and the Plumbing Inspector who admitted it is not good but the Health Department representative stated Mr. Foraker should get out a petition signed by adjoining residents in protest of the trouble. Letter further stated he had ~eported the matter to the State Health Depart- ment. Mr. ~oraker stated he was unwilling to get out a petition. City Attorney suggested the letter be referred to the Haalth Meeting, to be held this afternoon and the letter ~ acknowledged. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to a clcnowledge receipt of the letter and re,'er to the Health Dep'artment meeting this afternoon, carried. In connection with the foregoing complaint, Mr. Wheaton stated if there was enough agitation in that area then it would be possible to form a sewer improvement district. Mayor Kean suggested that in answering the letter, it be ascertained whether or not the location complained about is in the new sewer district which was formed recently, if so,' the man could be notified and, also, could inform tko Health Department meeting this afternoon. January 10, 1951 City Attorney stated he had been asked to ascertain if the Police Court Clerk, whose position isnow under Bremerton Civil Service, may be appointed by the Judge. Under an old statute the Police Judge can appoint his own Pol- ice Court Clerk without reference to Civil Service regulationee Mayor Kean explained that the clerk who was hired did not pass the exam- ination and place in the first three on 'the register, but her work is satis- factory and the question is whether to retain her or discharge and hire an- other under Civil Service. Mayor pointed out the cost of breaking in new clerks ~nd if one were to be hired under Civil Service there would be no guar- antee that she would stay. Mrs. naddon suggested further study on this mat- ter. Mayor Kean agreed to discuss the matter further and then make decision. Mrs. Haddon reported that today there were four packers and one open truck operating with 18 men; and additional men will be hired to fill in the crew after the present men gain more experience. Mayor reported that the Council and the City Clerk met the other evening with a gentleman who made an offer to act as garbage disposal agent and the man asked that his name be withheld until he had further opportunity to get in a better position to discuss the matteE. The information was made available in some way to the Bremerton Sun and the Mayor said he informed the Sun when called by a representative that the City had received a tentative offer and had been pledged to secrecy until further information available. Since then, the Mayor said, the Cities of Everett and Seattle have been contacted relative to their garbage contracts; also, the commissioner from Spokane who has charge of garbage disposal has called and offered his help in the matter.. The Spokane Commissioner informed the Mayor that Lewiston, Idaho, is having considerable trouble w~th its garbage contract. ~iscussion followed as to the necessity of c~lling for bids for a garbag~ contract, if t~at should be determined as thebest~way to handle the garbage problem. City Attorney advised there is a question under the ~harter as to whether this is one thing covered in furnishing materials or services to the City and with the doubt it would be much better to call for bids. City has full auth- ority under state statutes to enter into a contract. City Attorney stated he had been contacted ~y a local attorney representing er~ of his clients and had been asked some off-hand questions relative to a garbage contract. Attorney stated there was some question also because the City has an established dump and has all its own equipment. Clerk stated there is an outstanding bond issue to be considered. City Attorney advised that the City of Everett,s garbage ordinance is very loose. Mr. Wheaton reported the Water Department is hooking up with the l~" line that goes to the Ammunition Depot and that he had received notice from the Navy at ~:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon that they wanted the hookup made this morning so notice to water users affected by the shut-off was made last evening and a reasonable attempt was made to contact them all. Mayor discussed the activities of the Association of Washington Cities Executive Board relating to the present legislative session now being held at olympia. Motion by ~r. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to allow all bills if approved by a majority of the Commissioners, carried. City Clerk reported that the City Attorney has effected a collection in full against an insurance company after they had firmly denied it; also, have another claim on which the Clerk has sent in a questionaire and expects to re- ceive a check in s~ttlement. City Attorney stated the Civil Service Commission has received appeals from nineteen of the forme~ Garbage Department employees. ~hese men ~hrough ~heir attorneys Merkel and Cook, have filed one appeal signed by the nineteen men and City Attorney stated he felt this was ~ufficient; however, if the Civil Service Commission desires separate appeals, that is up to that commis- sion and is ~no conce~mof the City of Bremerton. Mayor Kean brought up for discussidn the matter of dissemination of in- formation relative to the proposed business and occupation ~ax. Mayor sai~ he was concerned about the mis-information which has been circulated relative to the city's financial condition and perhaps some group outside the City circles could make a survey and give out information. mayor Kean said he had dsicussed this with the P.T.A. and suggested that some part of their organization come in and make a report. Attorney stated the school district had legal authority to disseminats information on a bond issue but there is some question of how far the City could go in use of public funds. Attorney suggested that the Clerk's annual January 10, 1~51 (Con't) report could be used as a basis for giving out information. Attorney stated further he was the City's legal adviser and not a political adviser and the matter of the business tax was changing to a political issue., Attorney said he would like to see the expert from the Nuntcipal League get together with the City and agree ~n a figure that could be given out to the public relat- ive to cost per capita of the government of various Washington cities. Mayor Kean read from a newspaper clipping which quoted from a spokes- man from the Nunicipal League, who stated the Mayor had made threats of cut- ting city services if the business and occupation tax did not pass. Mayor said he had made no implied threats and then repeated what he had said in a previous Council meeting relative to what would be the result in City ser- vices cutbacks as a result o£ not having the revenue needed. Mayor said the vote of the people was welcomed as it would be an indication of what they want. Nayor said further that he didn't believe any interested group or any individual has contacted the City and set down with the City Aud- itor or any other City official and come up with cost comparisons, and said if anyone had done so he would like to know about it. Clerk said he had talkedw ith someone who had been hired by the Muni- cipal League and had been inquiring what the cash balance would be in the General Fund at the end of the year. Council members discussed the unfairness of comparing the land areas of Bremerton and Bellingham, as Bellingham~s a large area in the city limits which is unpopulated and has practically no population adjacent to the City Limits. Mr. H.W. Wahlstrom and son were present and mr. Wahlstrom said he might be interested in the garbage disposal if it is contracted out by bid. He said he had the Navy Yard garbage disposal for one contract year. Motion by Mr. Kean and ~rs. Haddon to adjourn, carried. APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor