Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 07-15-1958 Regular — reading text

resignation fram his seat on this Council was read: I Due to personal reasons; I hereby tender my resignation from the City Council of the City of Fort Walton Beach, and respectfully ask that you grant it your immediate acceptance. 10 I keenly aware of the honor accorded me in proffering my am appointment to the unexpired term of former Counoilman Paoe, and am deeply appreoiat~ f the cooperation and support you have given me in every instance. My association with you as a City Councilman has been most pleasant, and I will always remember with warmth and gratitude my year' s tenure on this Council." 1 Councilman Bass moved that Mr. Walker' s resignation be ac- cepted. Seconded by Councilman Roberts. Vote aye, unani- mous. Councilman Roberts moved that the salary of the City Manager be deter.mined and approved by the Finance Committee. Seconded by Councilman Bass. Vote aye, unanimous. Councilman Bass suggested that the vacancy thus occasioned-' on Counoil be filled at this time. Whereupon, Councilman Long asked permission to ,nominate H. French Brown, Jr., for this appointment. He stated that Mr. Bro'W! holds a B', S...-' l, degree from Mississippi Southern, he has lived in this area for ten years and is a local real estate broker. Councilman Long then moved that Mr. H. French Brown, Jr., be appointed to Mr. Walker' s unexpired term. Seconded by Councilman Bass. Vote aye, unanimous. Clerk was requested to ascertain im- mediately if Mr. Brown would accept this appointment; having contacted Mr. Brown by telephone, Mr. Rodgers replied that Mr. Brown would accept. Counoilman Bass moved that Counoil ratify Mr. Walker' s appoint- ment as City Manager to make it official. Seconded by Coun- cilman Miller. Vote aye, unanimous. Whereupon Mr. Winston Walker retired from the Council table. Councilman Bass moved that Mr. Walker take office as City Man- ager on July 21, 1958, and that Mr. Rodger' s appointment as acting City Manager be extended to cover the interim. Second- ed by Councilman Roberts. Vote aye, unanimous. Making reference to the presently existing on the vacancy Municipal Advisory Board, Councilman Roberts suggested action be deferred until a later time to permit oonsideration of an appointee, and to allow time for the passage of the ordinance now under consideration by which the membership of this Board will be increased. Mayor Stewart so ordered.  11 Councilman Carnathan recommended that the appointment to the Board of Adjustment be made immediately to permit this Board to function properly in the handling of scheduled I hearings. Councilman Bass moved that Mr. R. L. Clements be appointed to the vacancy on the Board of Adjustment. Seconded by Councilman Carnathan. Mr. Vote aye, unanimous. Rodgers advised that a Board of Equalization should be appointed immediately to consider any comments or complaints registered on this year' s tax assessments. Since this is a three man Board, it was agreed that three regular members and two alternates be named to assure a complete Board. Councilman Bass moved that Mrs. Ralph Buck be appointed to the Board of Equalization. Seconded by Councilman Ready. Vote aye, unanimous. Councilman Carnathan moved that Mr. R. A. Baker, Jr., be so appointed. Seconded by Councilman Roberts. Vote aye, unanimous. Councilman Ready moved the appointment of Howard McGee to this Board of Equalization. Seconded by Councilman Roberts. Vote aye, uanimous. Voting unanimously on motion made by Councilman Bass and seconded by Councilman Roberts, Mr. R. L. Clements was named an alternate to this Board. Also named as alternate was Mr. Wayne Patton, by unanimous vote on motion made by Councilman Long and seconded by Councilman Roberts. Clerk is to notify these persons of their appointments. Mr. Rodgers advised that Sgt. Robert B. Lewis is the owner of property on the corner of' Ferry and Third Street; it is a small triangular piece of property lying between Ferry avenue and the alley on the north side of Third Street and is too small to permit the issuance of a building permit. Mr. Rodgers defined the property in question as lying 75. 8 I 23. 59 feet on Third Street, and 67. 9 feet on the on Ferry, alley. Mr. Rodgers explained that Mr. Lewis has prepared a deed granting this parcel of land to the City in lieu of 12 the paving assessment. Following some discussion, Coun- cilman Roberts moved that this deed be accepted in lieu of all assessments pertaining to and against this particular piece of property only. Seconded by Councilman Ready. Vote aye, unanimous. In considering past referrals to the Public Works Committee, it was agreed that a meeting would be sCheduled between Com- mittee and the persons interested in obtaining a bus fran- chise and Attorney Stewart will notify them when Committee has set up this meeting. Recommendation from the Finance Committee re Sanders and Associates' bills for consulting engineer services was read: After carefully considering the bills for designing the extension of water and sewer services in the Northwest area of the City, plus the fact that the Acting City Manager con- tacted Mr. Balcer, the former City Manager, and he, Mr. Balcer, stated that Mr. Sanders was instructed to draw plans for this work with the understanding that payment would be made for same when the plans were used and actual construction done, on a pro rata basis, the Committee recommends that Shelby Sanders and Associates, Inc., be paid for this de- sign as the work is performed, and further that if the work is not performed prior to July 1, 1959, that the remainder of this bill be budgeted to be paid in the fiscal year 1959- 60." Councilman Bass moved that Council accept this recommendation. Seconded by Councilman Roberts. Vote aye, unanimous. Letter dated July 2nd, signed by Sanders and Associates, rela- tive to these engineering bills was read by Mr. Rodgers: Please refer to our letter of May 9 in connection with bills for engineering services totalling $ 22, 590. 56. Subsequent to this letter wemet with the City Council to discuss these bills and the Council approved payment of the following accounts: Balance on Sewage Collection System Northwest Area 6, 959. 67 Water System, Northwest Area 9, 803. 25 Sewage Plant Outfall, Design l,463. 63 Balance on Sewer Lines, Supervision of Canst. & Inspector' s Salary 2, 594. 98  13 At this meeting the above approved accounts were referred to the Finance committee for a recommendation as to method of payment. I Our bill expenses 1958 was in the amount of $ 1, 768. 93 covering salary and of Mr. McWhinnie from September, 1957 to February, referred to the Finance Committee for a recommenda- tion to the Council. In conversation with you on June 30, you advised that our you could give us no information as to when we might expect payment of these accounts. In addition to the above old accounts we have received no payment for our statements in connection with April and May work on your current street paving program, which totals 2, 654. 48. We are sure that both you and the Council realize that, under the existing circumstances, we must insist upon some arrangement being made for the payment of these long past- due accounts. We will appreciate your advising us, without further delay, when we may expect payment." Mr. Rodgers explained that in a subsequent conversation, Mr. Sanders indicated had that he would have to take some action to force collection of these bills. Councilman Bass stated that former Manager Balcer had employed Sanders and Associates to perform certain services. When discussing the work under consideration, Council Committee had recommended to Mr. Balcer and the Engineers that they file for planning money to do this work, this being a responsibility of the Engineers. This was not done at the proper time, and filing after the work has been done is not permitted. However, plans and specifications for the work are on file. Councilman Carnathan is of the opinion that the City has some responsibility for paying these bills if he interprets past action correctly. By way of explanation, Mr. Rodgers advised we had an offer from another engineering firm to do the design on the water and sewer extensions into the northwest area of the City to be repaid as lots were built on and connections made. There is nothing in writing, but I Mr. Rodgers stated he had been informed by former Manager Balcer ~ hat Sanders and Associates had been employed by Mr. Balcer under the same type of agreement. Since there is 14 nothing in writing, Mr. Sanders is asking that they be paid immediately. Mr. Rodgers asked Mr. Balcer to give him a statement outlining the arrangements he had made with Mr. Sanders, but Mr. Balcer had failed to do so. Referring to the two bills from Sanders sent to the PW Com- mittee for consideration, Council was informed the Committee will return a recommendation. The report and recommendation handed down from Municipal Advisory Board and its supplementary Hearing Board re the re- zoning request in Greater Camp Walton and a portion of Ocean City Subdivision was brought out of Committee and presented for Council consideration. The recommendation as a result of the public hearing held was re- read in full: The Hearing Board met on February 27th, to hear a request for re- zoning of certain properties in Greater Camp Walton and Ocean City Subdivision. Following this hearing, the Board re- assembled on February 28th, to make a physical in- spection of the properties owned by M. V. Garnett, Mrs. Bette Garnett, D. L. Skinner, W. R. Thompson, Mrs. Anne Thompson, W. E. Garnett, Everett G. Earley, Lloyd Earley, J. J. Rogers and M. J. Novosel, and on which a change in zone from R- 2 to Commercial was filed. The Hearing Board' s recommendation