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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.15.1960Minutes of the City Council of Laurel March 15, 7-960 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and was called ~o order by Mayor J. J. Parker, at 7 :30 0 ~ clock, P.1~l., on Tuesdays NTarch 15, 1960.. Upon roll call, the fo11_owing aldermen answered present: J.E.Fr~e~bury John Beslanwitch Jake Ruff Steve Romee Alex Henry Henry Kaiser Cecil Navy Ferman Frank The minutes of the previous meeting were read. Motion was made by Ruff and seconded by Freeburg that the minutes be approved as read. Motion. carried. Mr. Jim Handy appeared before the council to state that he was one of'a group representing the P.T.A. Ne stated what this group was concerned with safety, and requested that there be a «No Parkingt~ zone in front of the East School building on Sixth Streets and in front of the High School. After Much discussion, motion was made by Ruff and seconded by Rornee that a aonunittee be appointed with authority to act, and report ~.t the next council meeting. Motion carried. Mr. Handy was asked whether o~ not the P.T.A. would participate in sharing part of the ~;xpense of these signs. He stated that they would pay as much as they could. It T~ras the suggestion of the council that this matter be deferred until the City E~igineer has had a chance to price out the labor and material. Mayor then appointed the Police Com?nittee. App~_ications fir employment with the City of Laurel were read from Alex FritzlPr, and I~1a.ynard Segmiller. Motion was made by Ruff and seconded by Frank that these be placed on file. Motion carried. Applications for work at the swimming pool and parks this summer were read from Jennine NY. .ink, ~'eggy Jones and Betty Grace. Motion was madE by Ruff and seconded by Kaiser that these be referred to the Recreation Gomxnittee. Motion carried. Request from the Rod & Gun Club was read, asking that their lease with the City be re written to read, ~tRod & Gun Clubs Incorporated~~. Mr. Bradley reported that the Corporation should Unite a letter to bE att~.ched to the Old lease, and then a netir one drawn up. Membership Application signed by T'.~omas I:,. Bradleyy calling for a membership fee in the amount of ~~.7.50 to the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers was read. Mr. Bradley reported that this information would be very valuable in the coming lour suit with the Billings Beverage Association. Motion was then made by Bes~_anwitch and seconded by Rome treat the City Clerk be authorized to draw a warrant for this amount. Motion harried. Loyd Shay appeared before the council in the same capacity as Jim Handy who hash left th.~ Council Chambers, and was told that the matter had already been taken caxe of. Letter was read signed by Ilr. D. A. Nottingham chairman of the ~3oard of Adjustment as follower March 8, 1960 City Council of the City of laurel Gentlemen: Tre T3oard ~f Adiustment. for zoning bur~oses. o~ the City of Laurel. recommends to the City Council that the Zoning ordinance that we presently have in effect be amended in order to better control commercial billboards and signs. The amended recommendations are: - To change 'C-1 and C-2 Zonis so th~.t all billboards and signs are prohibited on undeveloped (no buildings or improvements thereon) lots or land, or on Viand or lots where there are improvements (buildings) that sign be limited to adverti5in~ the business therein and be further limited in size not to exceed 10 feet by l~.feet. It is further recommended that a sign ordinance be passed controlling the materials and manner in which signs are constructed in the zones where they are permitted. We, therefore, request that the Council gi~re notice of public hearing on these proposed zone changes. Yours very truly~~ Signed Dr. D. Nottingham Chairman -Board of Adjustment Ater a great dial of discussion during which A1.derman Frank stated that this had been discussed before and ~3eslanwitch sated that a previous committee had already recommended that the Billings Ordinance be adopted, motion was made by Freeburg and seconded by Beslanwitch that the City C1~rk be directed -to publish an intention to amend the zoning ordinance. Motion carried. I I I I Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Certain reports of the City of Laurel were presented as follows: Treasurers reports for the months of January and Februaxy; C'lerk's Trial balances for the months of January and February; water reve~.~e report for Februarys Water registrar's report for Februarys Cash Report for February; Budget report for February and Revenue report for the months of February. Motion was mach by Beslan~~itch and seconded by ~eebur~ that these reports be approved. Motion carried. Frank reported that the patrolmen and the Police committee and the Mayor had rnet, and decided that the Police should be paid X2.00 per hour for catching dogs. The City Clerk stated that chaxiges in City Policy could not be made in committee, and also that she had not been informed that there was any change in the rate of pay. It was suggested in the following confusion that ~c the ~'olice should be paid the ~.@.00 per hour, and that the pay should be retroactive since the City Clerk reported that they had already been paid for dog catching this year. After much discussion,, motion was made that the ~2.~0 be zllowed for the 1960 dog-catching. As at least one «No" was heard and no second to the motions there was rlore di~- cuss~on. rSotion was then made by Beslanwitch and seconded by rank that in the future X2.00 per hour should be allowed the policemen for dog-catching and that this matter be thought of far enough in advance to place same on the budget. Because of the previous confusion, P~Iayor Parker called for a roll call vote. Upon taking the vote, all aldermen voted ~~Aye~~ and oration carried. Muff reported on the garbage situation on Seventh Street. He stated that there was no place to set a can unless the City grants aright of way in the alley. Dick also reported on this. Ruff to contact the parties involved to see ~ whether or not they would be satisfied to place their can on the boulevard on collection days. Ruff reported on another garbage problem at the high school He was told -ghat this had been taken care of. Ruff brought up the subject of parking in front of the Post office on the cross wc~Il.k. NTr. Loyd Shay, Postamaster, being still in the council Chambers was asked his opinion of the situation, and stated that he had had ,many complain~~. In this connections Henry reported that he had checked Alain Street for the last three Saturdays and found much double parking on botYiside5 of the streat~ and sometimes with ~ no one in the car. It was the opinion of the council that there should be possible "No Parking" in front of the post oSfice, and only 10 minute in front of the City Hall. Police to be informed of this situation. Beslanwitch stated that there was much dissatisfaction on the part of the dubs at Riverside Park on the insurance on the different buildings. kfter much discussions motion was made by Henry and seconded by Ruff that this insurance problem be referred to a committee appointed by the Mayor. Motion carried with Parker appointing ~eebury, Beslanwitch, and Kaiser. Henry reported on the investigation of the purchase of the 3.7? lots of Fred Scheideckers in back of the City Ha11. Henry stated that the price is ~9,~OO.QO w~~.ich the committee felt was reasonable. After discussion, motion was made by Frank and seconded by Beslanwitch that the Ci~y not consider the Scheidecker property at this time. Motion caxried. Dick called attention to the maps under glass at the council table, and stated th~~t if any alderman wished to have a different maps that he could. Beslanwitch commenced the engineer on the nice maps. ~?ck reported that there axe letters posted on the bulletin Board from Cities which are using the lagoon system of sewage disposal. Parker stated that he felt that the City owed it to the taxpayer to investigate the lagoon system farther. Alderman Frank stated that he felt that as long as the 'City had retained a firm o~ experts to investigate fully, and obligated itself to pay fox their findings zn the amount of X7,000.00, that it was his opinion that their findings should be accepted, and that a committee from the pity C:~~w1ci1 would not be experts in this field. Beslanwitch stated that he agreed with Mr, Frank' and mentioned that the Council had already accepted the primary treatment as recommended in the report from Black & Veatch. A~'ter discussion, motion was made by duff and seconded by Henry that Parker appoint a cor:,mittee to contact the property ozaners involved with a view to the purchase of the land, and report at the next council meting. Motion carried. Appointed on this committee were Henrys Ruff, and Nave. Parker reported that some of the sewer users outside the City limits had. not yet paid their sewer assessments. There was discussion on the possibility of putting the sewer assessment on their water bills. Tt was finally decided th~.t thPSe assessments be charged on. the water bills, for those users who have water bills. Parker reported that he and Dick had been investigating the garbage land fi11 on the Jake Kukes property. Parker reported on the subject of insect control. .Dick reported on this. Parker stated that it was a possibility that the City could do their own spraying. He stated that this would necessitate the purchase of new equipment. A~'ter much discussion, it was the opinion of the Counei~ that the Mayor and the City Engineer look into this matter and come u~ with a recommendation at the new meeting. Letter was read from the Railroad Retirement Board, in regard to Peter D. I j Minutes of the City Council of Laurel T!~.omson~ which is quoted below in part. ~~The applicant has indicated that after December 31, 1y~9, he was no longer receiving compensation from the City of Laurel, Montana. If the applicant should continue his service with the City a£ Laurel without compensation, his doing so wi17. not prevent him from receiving an annuity. Likewise, if the applicant and the City of T;:aurel should enter into an understanding consistent with the facts ands prefora~aly in writing, that any payments to be made to him shall constitute reimbursement for expenses incurred by him, it ~ri11 be permissable for him to continue such service without affecting his entitlement to annuity pay~ments.'~ In this connection ~.greernent between interested parties was presented as follows:. AGR:~:~NIENT WH~.R~A~~ it is hereby agreed that the said Peter D. Thomson sha11 be compensated for actual expenses incurred while working in connection with his duties as Superintendent of Parks. Motion was made by Beslanwitch and seconded by F~uff that this agresment be adopted. Motion carried. Parker stated that Mr. Thomson ~rould like to nave a maximum amount o~ x.0.0(` per month for expenses incurred by him for the Parks. Motion was made by Beslanwitch and seconded by Ruff that up to ~I~O.QO per month k~e allowed. Motion carried. Mr. Parker then stated that Mr. Thomson feels that he should be compensated for January and February. Mr. Freeburg asked what expenses had been incurred by I~Zr. Thomson in these two months. There was some discussion, but no decision. Mr. Bradley stated that a new Resolution would have to be drawn up to take caxe of this matter. RESOLIJTION No. 1139 RESOLUTION N0. 1139, BEING A R.ESdLUTTON SETTING FORTH THE AMOUNT TC1 BE COI~IP~NSATED AND CF~TATN ~fln1DITIQNSCONNECTED WITH PETER. D. THOM50N'S APPdINTMENT AS SUPERINT~iTDE1TT OF PARYS, was presented. Motion was made by Freeburg and seconded by Henry that this Resolution be adopted. Upon taking roll call votes all aldermen present voted T+A,ye", and said Resolution was declared passed and adopted. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, motion was duly made and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried. - ~ j 1, { ~--°f_':`l:~ ; ,~,a.,>c.~' . --r> Dorothy P. ~ dy, City erk Passed by the City Council and approved by the Mayor this 5th day of 1~pril, 1960. ~~1:' Parker, Mayor ATTEST ~ Dorothy P. und. , City Clerk i i , ~ (u i it i I i I