HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/19/50 ,~pril 19, 1950
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton was
held Wednesday, Aprillg, 1950 at 10:00 o'clock A.M. in the Mayor's of-
fice, City Hall, Bremerton. Mayor Kean presiding and Commissioners
Haddon and Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, and City Treasurer Nutter being
present.
Mayor Kean as~ed that corrections be~made to the minutes of April
12, 19S0 as follows: On page three, paragraph four, to do with the pro-
posed purchase of property for right-of-way purposes from Mr. and Mrs. Ed-
to correct as follows, Mayor stated that as soon as the
ward N. Champine,
Council meeting is over arrangements had been made with the City Attorney
and the committee to aL1 go out together to look over the area ~nd complete
the negotiations."
In the second paragraph on page four to do with the State Examiner's
report relative to the transfer cZ' runes from the Water Department to the
General Fund, Mayor asked that the word "not" be removed from the third
line from the end of paragraph an~ the name "Julius Gius" replace the word
"his"in the same line.
Mayor stated a correction should be made on Page five in the para-
graph to do with the Doyle Vacuum Cleaner by eliminating "he would be avail-
able at 2:30 today," an~ make the sentence read, "Mayor stated that the
Cler~ was to maXe arrangements for a group to go to the R.ecreation Center
for the demonstration at 2:30 P.M.I'
Motion by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Wheaton to approve the minutes as cor-
rected, carried.
Clerk stated it was date and time for opening bids on sale cZ' a raft
of logs and several bids had been received.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to open the bias on the raft of
logs, carried.
Clerk opened the 0ids and ream from:Pope and Talbot, Inc., $8,670.50,
anm checX enclosed for $867.50;
Defiance Mill Company, ~10,0~5.00, 'aum certiz'iem check enclosed for
$1005.~0.
Tacoma Harbor Lumber & Timber Co., ~$9,406.18, and .certified check for
$940.62 enclosed.
Nettleton Timber Company, $10,260.00, an~ a certified check for
enclosed.
Siler ~ill Company, $10,186.26 anm certiI'ied check enclosed for $1018.62.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mrs. Haddon ~hat the logs be sold to the high-
est bimder, Net~leton Timber Company, carried.
Clerk stated it was date and time for opening bids on the purchase of
copper tubing and brass fittings and that several bids had been received.
~otion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to open the bids, carried.
Clerk opened and read bids from:
Western Utilities Cupply Co., certified check for $$0.00 enclosed.
Lent's, certi1'ied check for $50.00 enclosed.
E.N. Ha±lgren Company, certified check for $50.00 enclosed.
Palmer Supply Company, certii'ied check enclosed for $50.00.
April 19, 1950 ICon't)
Crane Company, certified check enelosed for $50.00.
Standard Plumbing and Heating, aertiI'ied check for $50.00 enclosed.
Allen Copper Coil Manufacturing, certified check enclosed ~or $50.00.
H.D. Fowler Company, Inc., certiI'ied check for $50.00 enclosed.
Pacific Water Works Supply Co., check enclosed for $50.00.
Clerk did not read the big figures as most of the bidders only bid on
part oi' the items and it would not be apparent as to whom would be the~ low
bidders until a tabulation is made.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to refer to the Co~muissioner of .Pub-
lic Works, Water Superintencent and the City Clerk and Purchasing Agent with
authority to award, carried.
Payroll voucher was read by Clerk for period ended April 15, 1950 in the
amount of $35,883.42.
Motion by~r. Kean and'Mrs. Haddon to approve the voucher, carried.
Clerk read claim for damages filed April 14, 1950 by Smmuel Hardy, in the
sum of $47.38 for damages to his car when a city truck~backed into it at llth
and High Streets on April 13, 1950.
Clerk reported for the record that a copy oz' the claim and an accident
report had been forwarded immediately after receipt of the claim to the City's
insurance carrier.
Notion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to make a matter of record andr efer
to the City Attorney, carried.
Letter dated April 13, 1950 from Charles Lewis, Chief of Police, to the
City Council was read by the Clerk recommending that the taxi cab driver's lic-
ense of Merle C. Reynolds be revoked by the City Council for the reason that he
has been apprehended on a superior Court Warrant, charged with falsifying state-
ments to obtain unemployment compensation, and bail set at $1,000.00.
Mrs. Haddon commented that this recommendation seemed a little premature
until it is known ~ether or not the man is guilty.
Mayor Kean said this was the first notice he had of this matter.
After further discussion of this recommendation, Mr. Kean said he would like
to have it referred to him.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to refer this matter to the Commissioner
in charge, carried.
Clerk read a letter dated April 12, 1950 from Charles Lewis, Chief Of Pol-
ice, to ~he Oity Council recommending that the taxi cab driver's l~ccense of Ray
Noble be revoked by the City Council; that Mr. Noble has been charged in Super-
ior Court with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor as a resttlt of his
actions on the night of April 2nd or early morning hours of April 3rd, 1950.
Clerk read the police complaint report which explained fully the background
of the charges.
This report was discussed and it was brough% out that this case differed
from the previous one in that it was a civil case and this is a morals case.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to concur in the recommendation to re-
voke the license and set the date for hearing t~vo weeks from today, carried.
Investment Board Minutes of April 12, 1950 were read by Clerk as follows:
"The Investment Board of the City of Bremerton met in the Mayor's Office
on Wednesday, April 12, 1950 at 9:30 A.M. with the following present: Mayor
Kean, Commissioner Haddon, Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, City Trea-
surer Nutter and City Auditor Vaa.
"Minutes of previous meeting were read and approved, after some discussion
on the investment of Water Consumer Deposit funds.
"Treasurer Nutter stated that he and Mrs. Haddon had been planning on hold-
ing off any further investment of City funds until L.I.D. bonds are available,
but since no such bonds will be available f or several months, he makes the fol-
lowing reconm~endation: This Board authorize the following investments be made:
"Firemen's Pension.Fund $5,000.00 Series, G 2~% Bonds
Police Pension Fund i,000.00 "
Employees' Retirement Fund 15,000.00 "
Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund 1,600.00 "
Manette Sewer Acq. Bond Red. Fund 10..O00.O0 "
Total $32,~00.00
"Treasurer Nutter. also stated that he has contacted the Police Pension
Board and has its approval l'or the above investment, but has not contacted the
Firemen's Pension Board or the Retirement Board.
"Moved by McGowan that recommendation of Mr. Nutter be approved, subject to
the approval of the Boards concerned. Seconded by Mr. Wheaton and carried unan-
imously.
"Motion was made, seconded and carrie'd that the meeting be adjourned.
Wenmell R. Vaa, City Auditor,
"I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of minutes of the
Investment Board of the City of Bremerton meeting held on Wednesday, April 12,
1950 at 9:30 A.M.
/s/ Wendel~ R.
Secretary of theilBoard
April 1~, 1950 (Con't)
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to concur in the recommendation as
set out in the Finance minutes, carried.
City Treasurer stated that since the Investmen~ Board Meeting noted
above it was ascertained that the Cemeter~ Fund would receive $900.00 from
calling in of some L.I.D. bonds and that this money should be re-invested
in U.S. Treasury Bonds. If this request is recognized by the Council, then
the Treasurer stated that would be sufficient authority to make the invest-
ment.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to concur in the recommendation and
authorize the investment of $900.00 in U.S. Bonds from the Cemetery Fund,
carried unanimously.
Clerk read letter, dated April 10, 1950, from the United Pacific Insur-
ance Company, to the City Attorney re: claim o~' Russell G. Peterson; that the
claim was filed 37 days after the accident occurred and as a result the in-
surance company declines to accept liability on the grounds that it was not
filed within the 30 day period.
City Clerk explained that he had felt there were some extenuating cir-
c~nstances in this claim and had asked the insurance company to consider it
in spite of the fact it was filed late.
Clerk discussed the background of the claim and said he had no recom-
mendation to make but just wanted to make the ~ouncil aware oi' the details of
the accident and subsequent events. He said that the accident report indicated
a City snowscraper damaged the claimaint's car which parked oI'f the street and
that the claimant was given the run-around by City employees and the Claimant
didn't actually get a report of the claim to the Clerk until after the 30 day
had elapsed.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to note contents oi' the letter and
refer to the City Attorney, carried.
Clerk stated that the City Attorney had left with him a legal document
for Mutual Surrender and Cancellation of Lease between the City of Bremerton
and H.A. Brigham and Ross A. Brigham of the Bayview Mill Company.
Mr. Wheaton said that this was drawn up in accordance with his recommend-
ation that the City let the Brighams drop this small portion of land which
they had been leasing in conjunction with the land where their sawmill is loc-
ated. They have removed all buildings from the property.
Clerk then read the Mutual Surrender and Cancellation of Lease.
Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to concur in the recommendation and
approve the cancellation of the lease, carried.
Clerk stated that the air service company who hold a lease at the Second
Street Wharf would like to have their lease cancelled and leave a float in
payment of the past due rent. They are about three months behind in their
rent and are about ready to close up their business. ~l~ne float is reported
to be worth $1500.00 it it's original value.
Mrs. Haddon stated that she would recommen~ accepting the offer to take
over the float and cancel the lease but Mr. Wheaton suggested that the float
be looked over before any action is taken and Mrs. Haddon agreed that would
be satisfactory.
Clerk read a letter to the Council, dated April 14, 1950, from City
Auditor W.~i. Vas and Chief Accountant, Water Department, John H. Short, set-
ting forth considerable information relative to G~rage costs and stating that
the present charge of overhead is 20%; howe~er, letter stated there is a
shortage ~n the accounts receivable due to various reasons.
These are that hourly employees were granted paid holidays since passage
oi' the last Garage Ordinance; also, a considerable part oi' the supervision of
the Foreman cannot be allocated to specific jobs but must be absorbed.
Also, the Garage has repaid the General Ftund $8100.00, and has invested
nearly $2,000.00 per year in equipment. Recommended that to correct this sit-
uation the Ordinance, No. 1VOO, be amended to provide that unallocated portion
oI' the ~moreman~s time be prorated among the various departments of the City
on the basis of the number of hours charged to each department. This is ex-
clusive oi' vacation and sick leave. This unallocated time, if charged to the
various departments woul~ amoun~t to a little over 3% to each department and
would increase the revenue by nearly $2,000.00 per year.
Clerk reported that Mr. Vas had computed the cost of upkeep of the pol-
ice cars at about $40.00 per month, exclusive of gas and oil. In making the
comparison of costs, the Clerk stated he ha~ contacted a local taxicab com-
pany who gave the figures for upkeep of their cabs at $59.7~ per month, not
including gasoline or garage rental. The taxicab company cars are older but
a comparison indicates that the City is doing its work very reasonably.
April ±9, 1950 (Con't)
Mayor Kean co~ented that the Municipal Garage was set up more or less as
a uti±ity mad was to operate at no proI'it but the costs seem to be creSping up
a little right along.
Mr. Wheaton asked that this matter be referred to him for further study
as he would like to get some further information on theplant.
Motion by NS. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to refer the communication to the Com-
missioner of Public Works for furthe.r study, carried.
Clerk read a letter from City Auditor Vaa, dated April 1Z, 1950~ to the
City Council, which stated that it is his understanding it is necessary to hire
extra help in the Traffic Department during the summer months for street sign
and signal maintenance due to additional duties assumed by that ~epartment in
maintaining the Water Department transmitters and mobile units.
Further, that since the Water Oepartment is to reimburse the~Traffic. De-
partment for radio maintenance, this will not be an additional drain on the
cash resources oi' the General Fund.
Auditor state8 further in the letter that the appropriation requested was
for $1,~00.00, extra help, $1.00-$1.~50 per hour, Salaries and Wages, Traffic De-
partment.
Clerk then read another letter dated April 13, 1950 from the City Auditor
to the Council which stated that the Traffic Department has been maintaining
the transmitters and mobile units of the Water Department since their installa-
tion and the 1950 Water Oepartment ~udget provides funds to pay for this ser-
vice; that it is'generally agreed by all parties concerned that $100.00 per
month is a fair remuneration and Auditor recommended that the Council approve
such monthly payment retroactive to January 1, 1950.
Mayor commented that he wished the Auditor had pointed out the reasons for
the emergency. Mayor said that the money is in the Water Department Fund to do
this and it was hoped that someone m uld be hired by the Water Department and do
the w0rk~ required by the Traffic Department, but this Could not be legally done.
Clerk explained further that Mr. Vaa had a letter from the Division of Mun-
icipal Corporations which set forth that all services rendered or property trans-
ferred from one department to another must be paid for and therefore this trans-
action coulm only be handled by the Water Department paying to the Traffic De-
partment a cash amount for these services.
Notion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to note contedts of the letters, concur
in the recommendations and refer to the City Auditor and City Attorney for pre-
para,ion of the necessary emergency ordinance in appropriating the funds, car-
ried.
City Clerk stated that he assumed the Commissioners had been served with
Su~aons and Order to Show Cause ~ny Temporary Restraining Order Should not issue,
which are in connection with the present garbage fill.
Clerk said he had been served copies although he was not named as a d®f-
endent; but thought possibly it was the City of Bremertons' copies.
Mayor Kean made the comment that his copy has already been transmitted to
the City Attorney.
~otion by Mr. Kean and Mr. ~q~eaton to note contents of the suit, carried.
Clerk read letter from the City E~ngineer to the Council, dated April 19,
1950, which stated that under Change Order No. ~ of Hoagland-Findlay Company,
Contract, Unit l, Sewage Treatment Project, manhole 8-F in Puget Sound Naval
Shipyard was omitted from the work and a credit of $~.50 was allowed the
City. It has been ascertained that this manhole, which incorporated a tide
gate installation, is necessary for the proper functioning of L~ t Station No.
8 and construction was made by the Street Department under the direction of the
City Engineer.
Recommended by Engineer that the Street Fund be reimbursed in the amount
of ~.50 by the Sewage Disposal Construction Fund.
Notion by Mr. ~heaton and Mr. Kean to concur in the reco~nendation as the
job has been done, carried.
Cler~ read claim voucher from Lent's, Estimate No. ~, Sewage Treatment
Project, Unit H, $7,79~.~9, approved by Howard I. Gorst, H.W. Kramer, City Aud-
itor Vaa, but the signature of ~r. Severance does not appear on it. A note
attached to the claim voucher from the City Auditor stated that estimates are
to be pai~ by the 15th of the month and this estimate came in this morning after
~r. Severance had left the office, so his signature is not affixed. Further,
if Council desires, the voucher can be approved for payment, subject to approval
of ~r. Severance; otherwise payment will be delayed a week.
Notion by Mr. W~aeaton and ~. Kean to allow the claim subject to the recom-
mendation of Mr. Vaa, Carried.
Clerk read letter from Office of the Fiscal Director, Department of the
Navy, Washington, D.C. Signed by J.B. Nichols, Chief, Finance Division, dated
April lC, 1950, addressed to Mayor L. "Hum" Kean, relative to Contract N0y(U)-
19~88, stating that the Fimance Division has authorized an advance payment of
April 19, 1950 (Con't)
$100,00.31 to be made under the contract and deposited in the Navy Special Bank
Account. Also, enclosed was a report form covering transactions of this account
to be prepared and submitted to the Finance Division each month until the ad-
vance payments are liquidated.
Mayor Kean said he thought this should be referred to Mr. Vaa to set up
a procedure that will ~e followed during this whole transaction and suggested
that Mr. Vaa prepare the procedure and certify it as auditor for the Mayor's
signature.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to refer to Mr. Vaa to set up pro-
cedure, carried.
Mayor asked the Clerk to read into the record a copy of a letter addressed
to the Mayor from the Forest Conservation Committee of Pacific Northwest Forest
Industries, 1410 S.W. Morrison Street, Portland, 5 Oregon, dated April 14, 1950
complimenting the City of Bremerton on the excellent forestry job being done in
the present logging operation on the Bremer~on Watershed and congrayulatlng the
City on the start made in the project to produce both water both water and wood
from the watershed forest and for the progressive program of watershed manage-
ment.
Mayor asked that the contents o~' the letter be noted and m~ke it available
to the press or ~nyone concerned.
Copies of the letter were given to Mr. McDonald and Mr. Taylor of the log-
ging firm who were both present. A copy was also given to Mr. Whittaker of the
operation.
Mayor Kean commented for the record that the City Attorney is in Federal
Court today an~ was excused from this Council meeting.
Mayor Kean stated, in connection with the Head-of-the-Bay area, which i s
jointly owned by the County-City and the area presently used as a garbage dump
known as Anderson Creek Tidefl~s that the only thing that could slow up certain
industries from coming in would be the failure of the County Planning and Zon-
ing Commission to recommend the zoning of Industrial Area there. Further dis-
cussion was held relative to the possibilities of industrialization on the
Anderson Creek Tideflats. It was agreed that Mr. Wheaton would take excerpts
from the minutes, showing the action taken on the request for re-zoning or zon-
ing, to the Kitsap County Good Roads Association, of which he is a member.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton that the City Council go on record as
favoring the re-zoning or the zoning of the area that is owned jointly by the
City and County and the area presently owned by the Bremerton Water Department
known as Anderson Creek Tide Flats, and request the ~ounty Planning and Zon-
ing Co~isston and County Commissioners to zone it industrial, carried, all
members voting Yes.
Mayor Kean made the conm~ent in connection with the previous action that the
timing of this request is not too good because some people might take it as a
move to l'ight Mr. Munro, but this has no similarity between the two matters.
Co~mmissioner Haddon again brought up the subject of the Air Service Lease
on the Second Street Wharf, wherein the air company desires cancellation of the
lease and in exchange for past rent unpaid give the City their float which is
reported to be worth about *1500.00. In the discussion it was brought out by
Mrs. Hamdon and Mayor Kean that Mrs. Haddon has already informed Merrill Wallace
she is in favor of this transaction.
Notion by Mrs. Hamdon and ~r. Kean that she be authorized to accept the
float in lieu of the payments now due in the amount of ~150.00 and to authorize
cancellation of the lease, carried.
Mr. Wheaton read a letter from Henry Wisehoefer, dated April 11,1950, ad-
dressed to the City Commissioners petitioning for the vacation of the alley
lying east of Lots ~1-~2-~$, anm boun~ed on the East by Lot ~4; also the alley
lying east of Lot $4 and bounded on the east by Lots Z~-~6-~7 in Plat or Wisch-
oefer Addition. Letter stated that Mr. Wischoefer is the sole owner of all the
above lots anm it is his intention to replat the entire trac~ comprising the
lots and the alleys.
The replat will dedicate a street along the south si~e joining the exist-
ing alley medicated in the Madsen Addition. Attached to the letter was a sketch
showing the proposed changes 'bo be mace and the sketch bears the approval of the
City Engineer Severance an~ c.A. Fulmer, the Chairman or the Planning Commiss-
ion.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to refer to uhe City Engineer, carried.
Mr. Wheaton stated that it appears as though it will require about ~13,000.
to repair 'the top or one or the reservoirs an~ then it would only have half a
job. He said either the cover will have 'to be removed or move the fences back.
· 395
April 19, 1950 (Con,t)
There was some discussion as to whether or not there is enough City owned
land around the reservoir to move the fences back far enough. Mr. Wheaton
said further that it may be necessary to put up a top made of aluminum and
having a light steel frame. He is to investigate this further and will make
some recommendations to the City Council next week.
Mayor Kean made the comment that if there is sufficient land and can move
the fences back far enough, it would simplify this matter.
Mr. Severance stated that the City was to have a trial on the lawsuit this
Friday Morning regarming the Anderson Cove rezoning and asked the City CounciI
to have a meeting to miscuss a map which he is to prepare. He saim he had talk-
ed with the City Attorney, Mr. Kean and ~r..'~neaton and has an idea what is pro-
posed to be done but would like a meeting to be sure before he makes the map;
however, he suggested that he could go ahead on the basis of the discussions al-
ready held.
Mayor suggested meeting tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock.
Mr. Severance asked whether the building is to be sold and where it would
set.
Mayor said his thinking is to sell it off-site because otherwise it would
be right in the middle of City activities; or either remove it or be utilized
by the City.
Mr. ~heaton said he felt it could be sold on-site as the City is planning
to sell land around there and he.didn't desire to use the building for any of
his departments.
Mayor asked what action had been taken on the request for keeping the sign
on the watershed advertising Stewart Motors, which request had been referred from
last Council meeting to Mr. Wheaton.
Mr. Wheaton stated that he had requested the City Clerk's Office to write a
letter to the advertising company stating that the City did not deisre to enter
into an agreement for the sign on the watershed and the advertising company for
advertising Richardson-Jensen Motors is considered void due to non-payment of
the ground rental which was due in February.
Mayor Kean stated he had received a 1,etter addressed to the City Attorney
from Mr. Searle of the H~using Authority regarding the responsibility of fixing
up the sidewalks, curbs, etc., in the housing project.
~layor said the letter advised that this is the responsibility of the City.
Mayor read a portion of the letter regarding the dedication made by the govern-
ment to the City of streets and sidewalks. Also, ~ad~rom the letter about
the government's immunity from taxes and assessments, etc.
Mr. ~eaton commented that this is the reason he has been holding back on
the streets in View Ridge as the City would have to repair them if it took them
over. Mr. ~heaton suggested that this should be referred to the City Engineer
and Mayor Kea~ stated he a greed with this and would pass the letter on to the
City Engineer andthen have the letter given back to the City Attorney.
Mayor asked if any action has been taken on the outstanding warrants ~uich
the State Examiner recommended should be cancelled and Mr. Nutter answered that
he ~d the City Auditor would take care of this but Mr. Vaa has been busy and
they haven't had an opportunity to work on it.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to allow all bills if approved by a
majority of the Commissioners, carried.
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to adjourn, carried.
APPROVED: ~ ~i/ty~~Clerk
~ayor