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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/48 November 10, 1948 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington was held in the Mayor's office on November 10, 1948 at 10:O0 o'clock A.M. Mayor Kean presiding; Commissioner Haddon, Commissioner Gorst, the City Treasurer and the City Att~orney being present. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mr. G~st to,prove the minutes as written of regular meeting held November 3, 1948 and special meeting held November 4, 1948 carried. Mr. Gerald Jenness, 1541 Marguerite Avenue, Bremerton appeared before the Council stating that he had previously written a letter to the Council relative to the nuisance of roosters being kept by a neighbor of his named George P. Wahl- quist, 1544 Naval Avenue, and that a representative of the County-City ttealth De- partment baa called on his neighbor and made an inspection of the chicken yard and house and had informed Jenness that it was as sanitary as a chicken house could be. However, the roosters are very noisy and have caused the Jenness' to move from their bedroom to another part of the house. Mr. Jenness asked the Coun- cil to do something to help get rid of the noise. After a discussion of the matu- rer, Mayor Kean stated he was not in favor of piling up restrictive ordinances if the matter could be handlem some other way and asked the City Attorney if he had any suggestions to offer. The City Attorney suggeste~ that the matter be referred to him and authorize him to advise Mr. Wahlquist of the complaint and tell him that the Council would consider an ordinance prohibiting the keeping of roosters and perhaps he would remove the present nuisance rather than run the risk of having roosters eliminated. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to refer the proposition to the City Attor- ney and to take whatever steps he thinks necessary at this time, carried. Mr. Jenness expressed his sincere appreciation for the Council's action. Clerl~ read separation reports as follows: Jo~ F. Bozick, William Gilbo and Russell Snyder, water department. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the foregoing separations, carried. Notice oi' employment was read by Clerk for John F. Bozick, helper~ Sanitation Department at ~1.33 per hour. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve the temporary non-Civil Service appointment carried. November 10, 1948 (Con't) Clerk read change in pay status for Delmer E. Stone, fire alarm electrician helper at $267.00 per month. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve the change in pay carried. Clerk read payroll voucher for period ending October 31, 1948 in the sum of ~35,918.18. Motien by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Kean to approve the payroll for period ending October 31, 1948 carried. Claim for damages was read by Clerk from Lyle B. Judge, dated November 8, 1948. and filed with the City Clerk on November 9, 1948 for the sum of $5.00 for towing charge when his car slid into a deep hole near 9th and North Montgomery where a street is undergoing repairs. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to refer the claim to the City Attorney, carried. Clerk read letter from Chief of Police dated November 4, 1948 recommending that the taxi cab driver'~ license of James Darwin Ganus be revoked by the City for the reason that Ganus was stopped in an attempt to smuggle two naval prison- ers out of the Puget Sound Naval Yard by taking them through the gate in the trunk of his taxi cab. Letter further stated it is the opinion of the Chief of Police that this action on the part of Mr. Ganus warrants the cnacellatlon of taxi cab driver's license. License attached to the letter. Motion by Mr. Keen and Mr. Gorst to concur in the recommendation and set the hearing for November 17, 1948 at Eleven o'clock A.M., carried. Letter was read from City Engineer dated November 10, 1948 by the Clerk re- lative to L.I.D. No. 238, Nipsic Avenue,~E. 13th to E. 16th, Estimate No. 1, re- commending the payment of &986.00 plus sales tax of $29.~8, total of $1,01&.~8 to Harold L. Gran, contractor. Motion by ~r. Gorst and ~r. Kean to approve the recommendation carried. Clerk read letter from C.C. Casad, ~ater Superintendent, dated November 10~ 1948 to Mr. Gorst, stating that a number of requests have been made by persons desiring to enter the watershed for the purpose of picking ferns, brush and chris- tmas trees, and that industry o£ picking and shipping these products has become of major importance to our country; however,, such items will in time amount to thousands oi' dollars in value and if pickers are permitted to gather them, Mr. Casad believes the City should be compensated for this privilege; and that if per- sons are allowed to pick brush, etc., on the water shed the following consider- ations shouId be required: Each person sho~,ld be issued a permit, some equitable charge should be ma~e for the permit; all persons should be required to furnish a certificate or receipt of the quantity and kind of projuct removed, and that all persons be under the control of the Water Department as to area assigned and re- garding the fire hazards or other conditions affecting, the City's interests. Let- ter further stated that Port Blakely Mill Company is preparing a contract fo~n for similar control and have given considerable study to 'this activity and ~r. Casad hoped soon to have a copy of the proposed contract which may be adaptable to the requirements of the City. ~Iotion by Mr. Gorst and Mr. Kean to accept the reco~endations and table the matter until a copy is recieved oI' the proposed contract of the Port Blakely Mill Company carried. Clerk read letter from Puget Sound Power & Light bompany, dated October ~6, 1948 which stated that in co~mection with the change of operations at Sheridan Park, the contract which the P.S.P.& L. has for furnishing service will be dis- continued effective November i and will furnish service direct to the various con- sumers in the project under regular filed rates. The letter set forth the number of the different types of lighting fixtures now in use in ~heridan Park and stated that service for the existing street lighting in the project will be furnished up- on receipt of letter of authorization. The additional billing on an annual basis will be $2,510.10. Motion by Mr. Gorst and Mr. Kean to instruct the City Clerk and Purchasing Agent to issue a letter of authorization to the Puget Sound Power & Light Com- pany carried. The City Treasurer brought up the question as to the availability oI' budget- ed funds to pay for the two months' service for the above lighting and Mayor Kean stated that it might Me better to wait and see what the emergency will be before passing any emergency measure. Clerk read copy of Letter dated November 5, 1948 from Edward F. Eldridge, Chief Engineer, State of WashinMton Pollution Control Commission to A.M. Bledsoe Rear A&niral, USN Commander, U.S. Naval Base, Bremerton, suggesting a meeting be held between the State and the Baval Base, also Mr. Emil Jensen of the Department of Health, Mr. H.W. Kramer of James W. Carey & Associates, and representatives of the City of Bremerton on November 1V at 1:30 P.M. in the State office. Clerk then read letter dated NovemOer 9, 1948 from Admiral Bledsoe to Mr. Etdridge stating reasons for having the meeting at the same time and datein the l~a~y Yard rather than at the State Office. November 10, 1948 (Con't) The Mayor suggested that the City Commissioners should attend along with the City Engineer. Clerk read letter from Lawrence Hubble, Chief Examiner, State Division of Mm~icipal Corporations, dated November 1, 1948, which enclosed examiner's report of the 14th examination of Bremerton, covering period January 1, to December 31, 1947, and requesting the officials concerned be notified concerning the contents of the report and file the report for future reference. Clerk stated this was a very favorable report. Mayor Kean remarked that usually they have quite a group of recon~endations and this examiner has made no definite recommendations other'than as set forth in the "Scope and Comment". Mayor read from the examination as follows: "AS a clos- ing word it may be s~id by an examiner returning after five years absence that much improvement is to be noted in all aspects of administration, In that period Bremerton has adopted it's own charter and become a city of the first class; the three commissioners first chosen are s till in office after riding the:storms of the most treacherous period in American economic history. The general tenor of our report shows that the a~intstration has things well in hand with a well or- ganized government and fair prospects for the immediate future." Clerk read letter dated November 5, 1948 from the City Attorney explaining that settlement was made with owners of two parcels oI' property naeded for right- of-way for street purposes f~r extention of Pitt Street. One parcel was purchased for $150.00 and the other for $?85.00, which settlement has been previously approv- ed by the City Council. Attached to t~e letter were two warranty deeds together with Title Certificates. Suggested that deeds be filed for recording by County Auditor and the a~praisal report and title certificates be filed in the office of the City Clerk. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to concur in t~e recommendation anm refer to the various parties mentioned, carried. Clerk read Ordinance No. 1811~ second reading, providing for payment of the cost o~' a special election to be held on November 2, 1948 and declaring an emergency. ~otion by Mr. Ke~ and Mrs. Haddon to pass the ordinance carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst~ Yes. The City Attorney stated that Mayor Kean had handed him a copy of Summons and' Complaint from Jtme M. Bulette in the case of James W. Bttlette, deceased, for ~V5,393.81 as a result of the wrongful death of James W. Bulette on July 30, 1948. The City Attorney recommended this matter be referred to him to take whatever steps should be taken. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to refer the matter to the City Attorney as reco~menmed, carried. The City Attorney reported in the case of City of Bremerton vs Clyde 0. Smith and others that the Supreme Court has con£irmed the decision of the Trial Court and that the City will profit by some ~800.00 as a result o£ the fines imposed. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst that the report of the court case be made a matter of record carried. The City Attorney reportem that he anm the City Engineer have concluded neg- otiations with Kate Bender for acquisition of the property at the East end o~' the Manette Bridge and she has filed a claim in the sum of ~12,000.00 for the purchase of that property. The claim has seen approved by Mr. Severance, City Engineer, and the City Attorney has submitted it to the Council for their approval. The City Attorney also said that Mrs. Bender will be definitely out of the ~ouse by December 1, 1948, and p~obably beffore that date. A discussion was held regarding the disposal of the house anm the City Attorney sai~ it might be in order for the Council to authorize the Clerk to begin advertising as soon as possible for the sale oi~ the house. Mayor Kean suggested the City Clerk keep in touch with Mrs. Bender anm expedite the disposal an~ as much special attention be given to this sale as possible. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst that the Council direct and authorize the City Clerk and Purchasing Agent with the assistance oi' the City Treasurer to dis- pose of the Bender property in compliance with the law at the earliest possible time and that we refer the entire matter to the City Clerk and Purchasing Agnet, carried. The City Attorney handed the Council a claim voucher from Kate Bgnder for $12,000.00 for the property referred to above aud a claim voucher £rom L.A. Bender and Ellen Benaer for the piece they have sol~ to the City at the same location for $1,ooo.o0. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the negotiations that were made by the City Attorney, City Engineer and the City Clerk in obtaining these pieces of property anm authorize the issuance of warrants to cover the purchases carried. November 10, 1948 (Con't) The City Attorney reported that the purchase of the piece of property needed from Mr. Heustis hasn't been completed as yet. The City Attorney read lease dated November l, 1948 between the City of Brem- erton, Kitsap County and the Facific Tow Boat Company for a portion of the area at the head of the bay for annual rental of $500.00, half oI' which goes to the County and half to the City. Lease signed by the County Commissioners and the Pac- ific Tow Boat Company and requires approval of the City Council and signatures of the Mayor and City Clerk. The City Attorney had in hand the $250.00 rental mon- ey for the City~ and recommended that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to execute the lease. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to sign the lease and the City Treasurer be directed to deposit the rental money in the General Fund carried. Mrs. Haddon mentioned about cleaning up of vacant lots containing trash and a discussion ensued as to what control could be placed upon persons owning such property. Discussion was also had relative to L.I.D. Guarantee property near Sixth and Washingtgn, which needs cleaning up, according to the City Treasurer and at the suggestion of Mayor Kean, Mr. Gorst stated he would see about ha~ing this clean-up work accomplished. The City Treasurer stated he would write a personal letter to one of the owners of property on which Nfs. Haddon has received complaints and endeavor to get the owner to clean it up. The City Attorney reported he had no information to report on the flower baskets and Mr. Gorst stated he had not checked on the strength of the light stan- dards yet. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon tomallow all bills if approved by a maj- ority of the Commissioners carried unanimously. A Mr. Sullivan had submitted a sketch of certai~ home improvements to the Mayor. These improvements seem to be in violation of building codes if they are made and the Mayor referred the sketch to Mr. Gorst to check and see if anything can be done. Mayor Kean annotmced there will be a meeting of all department heads in his office at 1:45 P.M., Monday, November 14, 1948 to discuss sick leave and vacation ordinance for next year. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to adjourn carried. APPROVED: Nayor