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COUNCIL CHAMBER, March 8, 1917.
The regular monthly meeting of the Common Council was held on this date with the following members present; Messrs. Forrest, Gleason, Graves, Long, Souder, Twyman and Wingfield.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
REFERRED. A communication was read from his Honor, The Mayor, stating that a committee from the Albemarle Gold Club had called at his office with reference to sale of part of its property to the City for use as a cemetery, and suggested that the matter be referred to a proper committee for consideration, whereupon it was referred to the Cemetery Committee.
APPLICATIONS FOR POSITION OF CITY HEALTH OFFICER. Applications for the position of City Health Officer were received from Drs. Macon and Coulter, but no action was had at this meeting looking to filling the vacancy.
ENGINEER. Application for position as Assistant to the City Manager in connection with the civil engineering work of the department, was filed by J. C. Man.
C. H. WALKER'S SAFE. A communication from W. G. Steele, acting for the former Treasurer, C. H. Walker, with reference to the purchase by the City of the safe in the Treasurer's office, was presented and referred to the Finance Committee. REFERRED.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. Report from the Finance Committee covering certain matters referred to it was as follows; That the proposition of S. S. Fife offering his services to the City in the capacity of civil engineer, be accepted. In the matter of providing for transportation for the City Manager it is recommended that the City advance him the sum of $175, covering commutation of transportation expenses from March 1 to September 1st, 1917, in order that he may be in a position to purchase, out of his own resources, a car to be used for said purpose. In the matter of application of C. S. Carter for increase in salary it is recommended that no increase be granted at this time.
POLICE. Chief of Police reported for Februrary cash fines, $133, cases in default, $38.00
TREASURER / REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR THE QUARTER ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1917.
| RECEIPTS | DISBURSEMENTS: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bal. on hand Dec. 1, 1916 | $29,527.03 | Salaries | $2,742.96 |
| Gas | 5,166.61 | Police | 2,262.27 |
| Water | 8,463.59 | Gas | 11,014.87 |
| Taxes | 3,572.11 | Water | 2,858.39 |
| Licenses | 587.15 | Sewers | 1,602.25 |
| Fines | 544.30 | Incidentals | 3,827.63 |
| Cemeteries | 520.50 | Streets | 6,362.17 |
| Rent Meade property | 150.00 | Health | 395.61 |
| Rent Gas House property | 16.00 | Poor | 1,001.70 |
| Streets | 303.49 | Cemeteries | 511.55 |
| Sidewalks | 90.67 | Fire Department | 1,235.87 |
| Scavenger | 587.47 | Interest | 9,742.50 |
| Gas Deposit Account | 10.00 | Schools | 8,000.000 |
| Fire Department | 5.00 | Lights | 1,929.74 |
| Incidentals | 12.85 | Summer School | 500.00 |
| Police Incidentials | 65.00 | Hospital Contract | 5,000.00 |
| Int. on Taxes | 52.94 | Interest & Discount | 325.00 |
| Bills Payable | 3,000.00 | Sinking Fund | 7,120.00 |
| 52,674.71 | Gas. Imp. Bonds | 2,000.00 | |
| Amt. overdrawn Mar. 1, 17 | 15,975.70 | Police Incidentals | 207.90 |
| Gas Deposit Account | 10.00 | ||
| $68,650.41 | $68,650.41 |
Examined and found correct this 7th day of March, 1917. J. E. Gleason, F. W. Twyman, W. F. Souder, Jr. Finance Committee.
HEALTH. Dr. W. D. Macon, Acting Health Officer, submitted his report for February, showing the City to be in the usual good condition.
CITY MANAGER. City Manager, S. A. Stecker, submitted his report for the quarter ending Feb. 28, 1917, which was read, received and ordered spread, and which is as follows:
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Report of the City Manger, continued.
To the Common Council and Board of Aldermen,
Gentleman: Since details have a tendency to distract from and make less comprehensible the main subject, I shall, in this, and in all my future reports, omit the details and present my information in as brief a form as possible. But I shall endeavor to be ready to supplement my statements and recommendations with detailed information whenever it is desired.
Instead of limiting my financial report, which is herewith attached, to a statement of expenditures and appropriations for just one quarter I have given the total expenditures for the six months and the appropriations for the year and then recorded the balance of appropriation for each department.
STREETS. Owing to the inclement weather practically all out street force has been kept busy on maintenance work. The work on W. High St. hill and the laying of a few large drain pipes being the only permanent work accomplished. We expect to complete the grading on west High Street this week.
On the financial statement you will notiec that I have cut the appropriation for regular maintenance work for streets $500, I am satisfied that a reorganization of the maintenance force and the use of the trash truck, together with the use of another horse drawn truck, which I have fixed up, will save that amount per quarter. The acquisition of the trucks should enable us to dispose of two regular wagons and four horses. However, I do not advocate disposing of these horses at this time. I think they ought to be kept and used on a grading force.
To supplement the regular appropriation for street department, I recommend that $12,000. be borrowed and expended as follows: - $6,5000. for building a concrete road on the Free Bridge Road from Locust Avenue to corporation line; $500. for the purchase of drain pipe, and $5,000. for rough grading, draining and crowning all the important dirst streets.
Mr. Wayland J. Hayes was the successful bidder on the stable manure. Price 77 cents per two horse load.
GAS. The disbursements in the Gas Department for the past quarter are high, due mostly to the large amount of new work undertaken and to the purchase of coal on the open market. The west Virginia Coal Company is not shipping as much coal as is being consumed, and persuasion by letter and wire seem to be of no avail. In a recent letter the company wrote that a number of consumers had voluntarily agreed to pay from fifteen to twenty five cents per ton more than contract price, and they suggest that the City of Charlottesville do likewise. I recommend that we agree to pay $1.25 per ton (an increase of 20 cents) whenever they deliver six carloads per month.
The work on the six inch gas main on Preston Avenue, together with connecting branch lines, has been completed, and the Belmont Line will be completed in a few days. A total of 3586 feet of six, four and two inch mains has been laid during the past quarter. This is exclusive of the Belmont Line. Number of services renewed 6; New services 2. The new retort at the Gas Plant has been installed.
WATER. The water line on Preston Ave. has been completed. Also an extension of about 350 feet on Graves Street which connected two dead ends and will accommodate all the houses that are being built on Goodman property. The Superintendent recommends that they laying of the watermain through High and 10th Sts. E., for which $1,690. was appropriated, be deferred on account of the prohibitive prices of material. I endorse his recommendation. The record of work done during the quarter is as follows: 6269 feet of six, four and two inch mains; 8 new services connected; 19 services renewed, and 34 meters installed. The petition for extension of water line to Kellytown, has been considered and estimated and the conclusion reached by the Superintendent and myself is that the line would not prove a paying proposition.
SEWER. Thw sewer line with branch line extensions on Preston Avenue has been completed. New work done on sewer for quarter: 1785 feet of main laid and 7 new connections. I recommend that sewer extensions be made as rapidly as possible. It means a reduction in cost of scavenger work. But more important than that is the protection of citizens against infectious disease, which is not assured where open closets are prevalent. With this policy in view we recommend at the time than an appropriation of $1,800/ be made for two extenstions, one up Free Bridge road and the other through the Goodman property that is now being built up. Property owners on both sides of the Rivanna River have made complaint about the emptying of the city sewerage into the Rivanna River, and peremptorily demand that some action be taken by the city in this matter by the 15th of this month.
CEMETERY. For the Cemetery I recommend that ths City acquire new property at the earliest date possible. I also recommend the purchase of two tents for the protection of the public when attending a funeral during rainy weather. The number of graves dug during the quarter is 35.
FIRE. The fire hazard in this City is greater than I like to see it, owing to the extensive area of the City, the bad conditions of the streets, and the dependence on a volunteer company. I recommend that a thorough study and investigation be made under the direction of the Safety Committee, taking under consideration the following; 1. Prevention of fires by inspection and otherwise. 2. The advisability of establishing another Station. 3. The motorizing of at least a part of the equipment. 4. Reduction of Insurance rates.
And I recommend, for immediate action, the voting of a $200. appropriation for the purchase of two dozen pyrene fire extinguishers to be placed in the public buildings owned by the city and in the houses of those members of the fire company who live some distance from the central station. This will give the fireman, living in a distant part of the city, something to fight a fire with if the fire breaks out in his neighborhood.
Respectfully submitted, S. A. Stecker, City Manager.
The recommendations in the foregoing report were acted on as follows:
Free Bridge Road improvement and sewer line, referred to Finance, water & Sewers. Recommendation in re. coal for gas department was approved. Sewer line for Goodman property, referred to Finance, Water & Sewers committees. Complaint as to sewerage emptying into Rivanna River, to Water & Sewers Committee. New land and tents for cemetery department, to Cemetery Committee. Fire protection, etc. to Public Safety Committee.
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City Manager's Financial Report for Quarter.
City Manager's Financial Statement for Quarter ending February 28, 1917.
| Departments. | Total Appropriation. | Spent to date. | Bal. Appropriation. | Next quarter. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries | $13,222.16 | $6,425.05 | $6,797.11 | $3,400.00 |
| Streets | 22,953.70 | 12,659.97 | 10,293.73 | 5,000.00 |
| police | 9,283.00 | 4,326.67 | 4,956.33 | 2,400.00 |
| Uniforms | 450.00 | 207.90 | 242.10 | 220.00 |
| Sewers | 6,665.00 | 1,969.08 | 4,695.92 | 600.00 |
| Light | 7,400.00 | 3,817.37 | 3,582.63 | 1,850.00 |
| Water | 17,347.55 | 8,501.60 | 8,845.95 | 4,400.00 |
| Gas | 29,999.00 | 19,985.15 | 10,013.85 | 9,250.00 |
| Poor | 3,860.00 | 1,956.13 | 1,903.87 | 965.00 |
| Fire | 6,000.00 | 2,361.48 | 3,638.52 | 2,625.00 |
| Cemetery | 2,000.00 | 1,140.70 | 859.30 | 500.00 |
| Health | 1,820.00 | 784.44 | 1,035.56 | 500.00 |
| Int. & Discount | 760.00 | 420.00 | 340.00 | 200.00 |
| Int. on Bonds | 27,935.00 | 14,672.50 | 13,262.50 | 4,500.00 |
| Bonds | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | ||
| Sinking Fund | 14,240.00 | 7,120.00 | 7,120.00 | |
| Schools | 23,300.00 | 14,300.00 | 9,000.00 | 9,000.00 |
| Summer School | 500.00 | 500.00 | ||
| Bills Payable | 15,000.00 | 15,000.00 | 3,000.00 | |
| Univ. Hospital | 5,000.00 | 5,000.00 | ||
| Oil for Streets | 1,500.00 | |||
| Old Veterans | 200.00 | |||
| Engineering Equip. | 400.00 | 400.00 | 150.00 | |
| Mrs. Applebury's suit and Jdgmt | 2,292.14 | 2,292.14 | ||
| Incidentals | 4,000.00 | 2,962.00 | 1,038.00 | 1,000.00 |
| Total | $218,127.55 | 128,402.18 | 88,225.37 | 49,560.00 |
Resolutions adopted: Agreement with C & O Ry. Co. for gas line. The following resolutions were presented and adopted unanimously: By Mr. Twyman, A Resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with the C & O Railway Company covering the laying of a gas pipe line under its tracks, and empowering the City Manager to execute the contract:
Fire escapes. By Dr. Forrest; A Resolution directing fire escapes be erected or repaired on certain buildings:
Study of City finances. By Dr. Forrest; A resolution directing the Finance Committee, the City Auditor and the Commissioner of Revenue to make a study of City Finances in re. proposed bond issue:
Transportation for City Mgr. By Mr. Gleason; A resolution to provide transportation for the City Manager:
Assistant to City Mgr. By Mr. Gleason; A resolution providing for an assistant to the City Manager for a term of one year:
Appropriation Street Imp. By Mr. Twyman; A resolution appropriating $2,500. for street improvement:
Quarterly appropriation. By Mr. Gleason; A Resolution appropriating $49,560. to provide for the City Government for the quarter ending May 31, 1917:
Referred. The Ordinance & Rules Committee presented a draft of the amended traffic ordinances which were read and laid over until the next meeting.
Referred. The question of adequate fire protection for the public schools of the City was considered and referred to the Committee on Public Safety, together with the Mayor, for investigation and report.
On motion the meeting then adjourned.
E I Carruthers Clerk. W. F. Souder Jr. President.
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COUNCIL CHAMBER, March 20, 1917.
A Special meeting of the Common Council was held on this date at 4 o'clock to consider the following matters; Improvements on East High Street, The License Ordinance for the year, Employment of additional help by the Business Manager; Tax Levy in the annexed territory; Application of Martin Hardware Company for permit to erect sign on Market Street, and Telephone for Commissioner of Revenue.
There were present Messrs. Elliott, Forrest, Gleason, Graves, Long, Souder, Twyman and Wingfield.
REFERRED. The Annual License Tax Ordinance was presented by the Finance Committee, which was, under the rules, recommitted to the said Committee.
REFERRED. Application of Martin Hardware Company for permit to erect sign on Market Street was referred to City Manager and Street Committee with power to act.
REFERRED. The matter of telephone for Commissioner of Revenue was referred to Buildings & Grounds Committee with power to act.
The following resolutions and ordinance were unanimously adopted:
ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING HELP FOR CITY MANAGER A Resoultion authorizing the City Manager to employ additional engineering help:
APPROPRIATION IMPROVEMENT FREE BRIDGE ROAD. A Resoultion appropriating $8,800. to build concrete road and lay sewer lines on the Free Bridge Road: and
TAX LEVY ON ANNEXED TERRITORY. An Ordinance to levy a tax on persons and property in the Annexed Territory for the year 1917.
The matter of improvement to East High Street was taken up in the resolution making the appropriation for Free Bridge Road.
The meeting then adjourned.
E. I. Carruthers, Clerk. W. F. Souder, Jr., President.
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COUNCIL CHAMBER, April 12, 1917
The regular monthly meeting of the Common Council was held on this date with the following members present: Messrs. Elliott, Forrest, Gleason, Graves, Long, Souder and Wingfield.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Mr. Garland McNutt, representing the Special Committee appointed at a mass meeting of the citizens for the purpose of taking a census of the eligible male citizens who may be called to arms, and to consider other questions relative to the defense and protection of property, was granted the privilege of the floor and stated that his committee desired to call to the attention of the Council the question of placing guards at the City reservoirs for their proper protection at this critical period. The matter was referred to the Mayor for his consideration and attention.
REFERRED. Petition of Mr. C. M. Thomas, City Jailor, for an increase in the allowance for boarding the city's prisoners was presented and referred to the Finance Committee with power to act.
REFERRED. Petition of Ryalls Machinery Company for permit to erect gasoline tank at their place of business on South Second Street was referred to the Street Committee and City Manager with power to act.
REFERRED. Petition from residents of the road leading from Ridge Street to Hartman's Mill for water supplis was referred to the Water Committee and City Manager.
REFERRED. Petitions for street lights to be placed on South end of Ridge Street, Lankford Avenue, Hartman's Mill Road, the turn of the Ivy Road at foot of Carr's Hill, and at the intersection of Water and Fifth Streets, were referred to the Light Committee and City Manager.
POLICE. The Report of the Chief of Police for March showed cash fines $330.45; cases in default, $93.
MONTHLY REPORT CITY MANAGER. The City Manager submitted his report for the month of April, which was read and such action taken thereon as indicated in bracketed explanations inserted by the Clerk: April 12, 1917.
Gentlemen: STREETS. We started the grading work on Harris and Albemarle Streets. Owing to the presence of considerable rock on Harris Street this work has progressed rather slowly, but another week should complete the job. The preliminary surveys on Free Bridge Road have been completed and we are now working on the plans and specifications. Mr. Harrison and myself are of the opinion that if the City and County together would do the grading work on this street that it would make the job much more attractive to the contractors. Contractors would have to bid high on the grading work in order to cover expense of moving a grading equipment down here, and, as we have the equipment on hand this expense could be saved. And, aside from the economic consideration the completion of the grading several weeks in advance of the laying of the pavement is very desirable, because it will give the fills a chance to pack and settle.
Mr. Shapero, whose residence lot is located at the corner of 7th and Jeff. Streets, desires to improve his property, and requested me to ask the Council's permission to absorb a five foot strip of the street on 7th Street, which would aid him very much in improving his property. I have lined up the curbs and property lines on West side of 7th Street and believe that the granting of this privilege will not be detrimental to the interests of the City. (The Council referred this request to the Street Committee and City Manager with power to act. The Board of Alderman at its meeting on the 16th did not concur in this reference with power.)
Requests for permission to install gasoline tasks under street surface have come from Ryalls Machine Works and Sparks Vulcanizing Co. I recommend that, if the privilege is granted, the parties be required to install tanks so that both intake pipe and pump be located between curb and property line, preferably right near the curb line. (Referred to Street Committee and City Manager with power to act.)
The street sprinkler has gotten in a "one-horse shay" condition, and I recommend that a new one with oiler attachment be purchased immediately so that it can be used for putting down the dust-laying oil. The coat will be about $500. (Referred to Street Committee and City Manager for report.)
An appropriation for dust laying oil should also be made at this time. From $1,200. to $1,500. will probably be sufficient for this purpose. That amount ought to purchase two tank cars.
(over)