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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/14/50 June 14, 1950 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington was held in the Mayor's Office, City Hall, Bremerton, Wednesday, June 14, a~ 10:00 o'clock A.M. Mayor Kean presiding and Commissioner Wheaton, City C~lerk McGowan, City Treasurer Nutter and City Attorney Wallace being present. Com- missioner Haddon being absent. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve minutes of previous meeting of June 7, 1950 as written, carried. Reports of separation were read by Clerk for: Archie F. Nichols, Cemetery; Robert Flavin, Traffic Maintenance, Police Department. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve the reports of separation, carried. Notices oI' employment were read by Clerk for: William J. Beatty, Traffic ~,,aintenance, Police Department at $1.50 per hour; Sylvia J. Wheeler, Park and Recreation at $1.00 per hour. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve the temporary non-civil service appointments as read, carried. Change in pay status was reaa by Clerk for Clarence Fleming, Clerk's of- lice, from $200.00 to $225.00 per month. Motion by Mr. Kean aud Mr. Wheaton to approve, carried. Clerk read claim voucher from Hall-Atwater Company for estimate No. 8 on the West Bremerton Plant & Pump Stations contract, $34,310.70, approve by H. I.Gorst, the Field Engineer, H.W. Kramer of the ~onsulting Engineers, W.R. Vaa City Auditor and E.~. Severance, City Angineer. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve the estimate, carried. Letter was read by Clerk dated June 10, 1950 from Chief of Police, recom- mending that the taxicab drive~!t:s license of Lewis Ervin Long be revoked because of a third degree assualt conviction in Justice Court #2, Bremerton, in which he was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail, suspended on his future good behavior. Motion by Mr.~ Kean and Mr. Wheaton to concur in the recommendation and set the date for hearing two weeks from today at 10:30 A.M., carried. Clerk presented an easement recsived from J.M. Watson & Annie T. Watson and The First Federal Savings anG Loan Association, mortgagee, for sewage pre- ssure line across their property at Sherlaan ?ar~. This easement was not ob- tained previously due ~o an oversight. Mayor Kean ordered this easement to be made a matter of record and refer to the City Attorney for filing. Motion by Mr. Wheaton snd Mr. Kean to authorize the City Clerk and Purchas- ing Agent to call for bids for the purchase of one 185 gallon tar kettle, for the. Street Department, carried. City Clerk stated he had a request from Hartford Accident and Ineemnity Company, surety for the contract between the City and Commercial Builders for construction of a fire drill tower, as to the progress of this contract. June 14, 1950 (Con't) This contract was held up as the city had no space on which to have the tower built and the city has paid the bond fee since it was the City's respon- sibility so to do if the contract was not completed. City Attorney suggested that Council take definite action to concel this contract. Mayor stated that it was planned to construct the tower at Anderson Cove but space was not available to the City. City Attorney recommended that the Council could authorize him to nego- tiate for a withdrawal and cancellation of the contract; that the location was a prime matter and the City does not have a location and the contract should be cancelled before too much time elapses. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to refer the matter of the d~ ll tow- er to the City Attorney with power to act, carried. Clerk read a copy of a letter dated June 2, 1950, from the State Depart- ment of Health to Dr. Benham, Director, County-City Health Department, approv- ing the use of sludge from the Bremerton sewage treatment plant with certain provisions, which were set forth in the letter, and suggested that the user or buyer of the sludge sign a form to be kept by the City stating that they under- stand how the material is to be used. Mr. ~heaton commented that it was his intention to have this information printed and made available to prospective buyers. Also, he said this sludge could be used by some of the City departments. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to note contents and refer to the Com- missioner of PuBlic Works an~ Utilities, carried. Cler~ read a letter, dated June 13, 1950, to Mr. ~heaton from Mr. Casad, recommending that the City Council approve extension of the agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for surface water investigations in Kitsap and Mason countl,es to June 30, 1981 and authorize the necessary appropriations in the 1951 Budget. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to approve the extension of this pro- gram for the ensuing year and refer to the City Auditor for budget, carried. The queenand her two princesses representing Uhe Strawberry Festival to be held on Bainbridge Island, Friday and SatUrday of this week week were pre- sent and invited the of£icials of the City and the residents to attend the festival. City Clerk stated that he had received a call from Bud Hagerman, of the Sound Wholesale Company, who rent on the First Street Wharf, asking whether the Associated Grocers, also renters on the wharf, were restricted in the mer- chandise they could handle by the terms of their, lease. The, question arose because the Associated Grocers had recently handled a load of vegetables where- as their usual business had been in dry groceries. Clerk stated he had checked and advised Mr. Hagerman that Associated Grocers was on a month to month basis without a lease agreement and there were no restrictions to his knowledge. Clerk said that the minutes in 1~48 showed that the matter o£ a lease with Associated Grocers had been referred to the Commissioner of Finance and the City Attorney to either have the former lease assigned from Younglove Grocers or draw up a new lease, but nothing further can be found in the minutes at later dates, nor can any documents be found in- dicating an assignment or new lease. Attorney suggested, after, discussion, that this be referred to the City Clerk to continue negotiotions with the parties concerned regarding the res- trictions, in the absence of the Commissioner of Finance. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. ~heaton that in the absence of the Commiss~on- er of Finance this matter be referred to the City Clerk to continue negotiations with the parties concerned and to discuss the matter with the City Attorney and the Commission, carried. Letter dated June 9, 1950, was read by Clerk from Mrs..Annie B. McNaughton President of Breme~ton WCTU to the City Council expressing their sincere ap- preciation for the decision in the matter of the proposal to legalize dancing and entertainment in Breme~ton~s taverns. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to note contents and file, carried. Clerk read letter dated June lA, 1~50 from John C. Merkel, Attorney, to the City Council, relative to the proposed adoption of a new plumbing code, written on behalI' of Master Plumbers and Journeymen Plumbers. Requested delay in passage of the ordinance adopting the report of the Uniform Plumbing Code Committee and the letter set forth the reasons for making this request. Letter suggested that the Council adopt an ordinance for the new sched- ule oL £ees but the proposed plumbing code be given further consideration. A~- so, ~he letter recommended that a committee be formed composed of two master plumbers, two ~Journeymen plumbers, one mechanical engineer, Building Inspector, and Plumbing Inspector, by the plumbing industry. 431 June 14, 1950 (Con't) Mr. Merkel, in his letter, stated there is no emergency exisZing as far as the present code is concerned. Mr. Mer~el was present and read from a letter from the Master Plumbers Association of the State, stating they were surprised that the City was going to adopt en toto the uniform plumbing code which is only a suggested guide. Mr. Merkel stated that the uniform plumbing code is not a code but a report and is to be used where there are no codes in force for a guide, and that the uniform plumbing code committee who have been working on this nation- ally expect to have a suggested ordinance available in August. He said it was confusing rot the committee to have a report adopted as a code and suggested further that the Council meet outside of regular moeting and study this over further. Mr. Merkel stated that he had heard that after the city's committee had discussed a particular section of the proposed ordinance and had decided what it should be, that someone had changed sections of it without the committee~s authority. Mr. Wheaton discussed this subject and that the City was trying to get the plumbing code straightened and he felt the proposed ordinance had been discussed thoroughl~ In further discussion, the City Attorney outlined what the procedure could be at this, time. The city could pass an emergency amendment to the pre- sent ordinance for rate increases and continue to operate under the present code and Mr. Wheaton has suggested that proposed amendments be put in writing. Mn Merkel stated that the code the committe% worked on for months is not this plumbing code and the one.they were working on has been dropped out of sight somewhere along the line. Mr. Wheaton commented that he did not agree with this statement. Mr. Merkel also suggested it would be more economical to have a, complete ordinance adopted and not have a number, of amendments. ~r. Tinney spoke and sale the proposed ordinance would be much more con- troversial than the present code and that health standards are taken, care of under the present ordinance; also, that the plumbers, both master and ~ou~- neymen, are a little confused over the committee meetings which were held on the proposed code. Mayor stated the situation has become confused as for the past three weeks different groups have been in for and against the proposed code. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to study as a committee of the whole with Mr. Wheaton as chairman, carried. Clerk stated that pay date comes this time when the commissioners will be gone and he would like to request that the Council approve the paFrolls prior to signing them and then sign them on their return from the convention, and permit the payrolls to go out. The City Auditor and the Clerk will be present to check payrolls. City Attorney stated he could see no objection to this. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to authorize the City Clerk and City Auditor to issue the payrolls in general and upon the approval of the commis- sioners in charge on the overtime, carried. ClerE stated that the lease between the City of Bremerton, County of Kitsap and McDonald, Taylor and Bruckart, Inc., has been returned from the County and is signed by the County Commissioners. Clerk stated this was date and time for opening of bids for sale of raft of logs and two bids received. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to open the bids, carried. Clerk opened the b~ds and read from: $iler Mill Company, Seattle, $7,259.2~, and certified check enclosed for $723.92. Dickman Lumber company, Tacoma, $7345~00, with chec~ enclosed for $734.50. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to sell the raft of logs to Dickman Lumber Company, carried. Mr. Nutter ma~e a progress report relative to the proposed dump site at the County Airport. He said he had met with the Airport Board and received tentative approval of the disposal site and now waiting for the approval of the C.A.A. The only committment made was that the City would assume respon- sibility for the road from the highway into the dumping ground and ii' found feasible and possible to so do, would re-establish the fence around their water supply. No rental was under consideration, but tolG them that if it was possible in three to five years from now, the City Council might be able to see some way of making a remuneration but not until that time. City Attorney stated he had received a notice of creditors meeting to be held on June 23 in connection with Broz Men's Shop, ~hich went bankrupt. Mr. Nutter informed the Attorney that the only bill the City might have against that firm would be on garbage collection. City Attorney stated if he is provided with these figures he might be able to collect something. 432 June 14, 1950 (Con't) City Attorney read a letter addressed to him from Army Seijas, dated June $, 1950, setting forth his investigatigns oI' pinball machine rates in various places in this area of Washington State. City Attorney stated he would like to have the matter 9f pinball lic- enses taken up pr$or to July 1st and that any ordinance passed amending the present pinball ordinance should base fees on a quarterly basis or 60 or ~0 days instead of annually. He said further there is something in Olympia regarding making pinball machines legal so would be better to have licenses on short-time basis in order to go along with Olympia. Mayor stated he felt 60 days would be in order and it would take the City over the special legislative session. City Attorney stated he has been asked by School District 100-C'to in- quire how far the joint use of equipment between county and city has gone. Mr. 7~neaton explained that the resolution adopted last week was in con- nection with this and that he had asked Ed Day of the school district to get a resolution through the school board on this same subject. Mr. Wheaton explained that the resolution passed by the Council last week setting up rates was intended for the purpose of loaning equipment, Phinney Bay Water District came up for discussion, and City Attorney stated he has now been advised that the City already owns the water meters in the portion of the district which has witho~awn and is in the City Limits and that Attorney Garland says he would be very glad to pass title cZ~ th~ mains and other appurtenances of this same area. Mr. Wallace said further that Mr. Garland thought there was some question oI~ ownership of the meters in the County portion of the district. ~r. Casad, who was present, at this time, stated that these meters are owned by the Water Dep~rtment and ~r. Wallace said he would check back with Mr. Garland on this matter. ~r. Casad commented this should be straightened out so ~hat the people in the part of the district which is in the City could be charged regular City rates rather than the district rates~ Mr. Wheaton advised the Council that he had written a letter yesterday to the~Housing Authority asking that the City be given that portion of land out by the gravel pit, a five-acre tract less, the highway and the Bonneville Power right-of-way. This will give th~ city a place to pub up the a~phalt plant. Mr. Wheaton gave a copy of his letter to the City Attorney. Mr. Wheaton read a letter addressed to him from the City Engineer, dated June 14, 1950, stating ~hat at Burwell St. & Bloomington Avenue there is a strip ol~ paving that is in immediate need 9f repair, and the entire length of Burwell ~dll need repaying or resurfacing within the next few years. The cost of repaying the small strip would be $877.00. The Paving between Bryan and Olympic Place is not good and should be resurfaced this year, but it ap- pears unwise to repave a small section and then later resurface same with as- phalt, and City Engineer recommended that a strip approximately ~25,x~6, be resurfaced with asphaltic-concrete. The cost by contract for this Job would be $1440.00. Letter stated that inasmuch as the City plant is not operating, it would require calling for bids for material, laying ane rolling. City forces and equipment could ~lean and tack streed and haul the material. Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to direct the City Clerk and Purchas- ing Agent to call for bids for materials, etc., carried. Mayor. Kean asked for progress report on .t~e work to be done by the State on Ninfield Avenue at east end of the Nane~te Bridge. Mr. Wheaton stated this is in %he State's hands and he has written them to push it through. City Attorney reported he hap all the deeds for all the propert~ n~eded but they have not been filed as yet as he is awaiting the ?ezoning ordinance. Mr. Wheaton stated the Planning Commission was holding a hearing on the re- zoning ordinance. ~he facSt~that there is an emergency ~as discussed, such emergency being based on the fact that the State has much work to do and as the money is used up certain Jobs are not able to be done~ Mayor suggested that someone sit in at the Planning Commission meeting to find out what action they have ~aken an~ then immediate steps can be taken by the City to have the deeds filed. Notion by ~r. Kean and ~r. Wheaton to allow all bills if approved by a majority of the Commissioners, carried. City Attorney reported he has been negotiating on the Chapman case and nothing to report to the Council yet and the gravel pit suit will come up at ~he next jury term. In connection with the Amende case, City Attorney reported there is another prospective lawsuit. Notion by Mr. Kean an~ Mr. Wheaton to adjourn, carried. Ct~y Clerk APPRO D;, ~t