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01-10-1941 Regular Meeting crry OF CLERMONT MINTTTES OF THE REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE Crry COUNCIL HELD AT THE Crry HALL, FRIDAY, IN,TUARY 10,1941, 8:30 P. The meeting was called to or(lier by O.R.Keern; others present were recently elected Councilmen, G.J.Ega~, C.W. Gains, H.R.Harper and R.V.Miller, Mawor H.C.Brown, and Tax Assessor, G.A.Nash. City Attorney Geo. F. Westbrook, Marshal H.S.Cleaver, Street and Water Supt. R.F.Anderson were also presBilt. ~ ., The City Cle rk administered the oath of' off'ice to Mr. H. C. Brown as Mayor. Mayor Brown then adminis tered the oath of' of'f'ice to the newly elected Councilmen, G.J.Egan, C.W.Gaines, H.R.Harper, and R.V.Miller; and to tne Assessor, G.A.Nash. Mr. Keene then declared that nominations for President of the Council we~ in order. Mr. Keene was nominated and elected without dissenting vote. Mr. Gaines was nomina ted and elected Vice -president. Mr. Keene then asked that any vis itors with busine ss to take up with the Council, present it at that time. Mr. E. C. Peml:e rton asked -that the assessment on his home be lowered to the same amount as 1939, as he understood Assessor W.M.Thomas that it would be placed at that f'igu~o Af'ter some disc'ussion and checking the records, Mr. Egan nnde a motion, seconded by Mr. Miller, and carried, that tnB Council could not change the amount of' the assessmnemt on property for 1940 'taxes at this time. ~~. Westbrook spoke to the Council f'or a few minutes about his work as City Attorney. Mayor Brown submi tte d his 1geport which was read by the City Cle rk. A copy' of the report f'ollows t:re minutes of this meeting. A motion was Im die by Mr. E@:in, seconded by Mr. Miller, andcarried, that the report be accepted as read, and taken under due deliberation and consideration for action at the next n:a eting of the Council. Mr. Egan made a motion that R.F.House be appointed City Clerk at a salary of' $125.00 per month. The 'motion was seconded by Mr. Miller, and when put to a vote, carried. Mr. Egan made a motion that H.S.Cleaver be appointed Marshal and Health Of'ficer at a salary of' $125.00 per month, with an allowance of $25.00 per month additional for car expenses, and that he 1:a allowed to buy ga s and oil far his car from the City at cost. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gaines, and when put to a vote, carried. The Imtter of the City furnishing him a car is to be taken up at a later date. Mr. Egan made a motion that the matter of extra police be left to the discretion of the Mayor and too Marshal as to hours arrlduties; the pay to be $2000 per day. The motion was seconded by l1r, Gaines, and woon put to a vote, the motion carried. ~ ~. Mr ~ Gaines made a moti on, seconded by Mr Mille r, and carried, that J.P.Achord 1:a appointed Fire Chief at a salary of $25.00 per month. Mr. Gat nes made a motion that Geo. F. Westbrook be appointed City Attorney at a salary of $25.00 per month. The motion was seconded by Mr. Miller, and when put to a vote, the mot ion carried. Mr. Egan made a motion that R.F.Anderson be appointed Street and Water Superintendent, Building Inspector, Electrical and PluIDang Inspect,r~, at a salary of $100.00 per month with an additional allowance of $15.00 per month for car expense. Minutes of adjourned meeting 1-10-41 page 2. Mr. Egan na de' a' mot! on tha t the C i ti zens Bank of Clermont be named the depository for all City Fungs. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gdnes, and when put' to a vote, too motion caITied. ~ ~ Mr. Egan made a motion that the surety bonds of the City Clerk, Treasurer and Marshal be continued in the same amounts; City Clerk $5000.00, Treasurer $2000.00, Marshal $2000.00., ~e motion was seconded by Mr. Harper, and when put to a vote, the motion carried. An application was received from Frgnes B. Fleming for a license to vend liquors in the City of Cle rmont; such liquors to be sold in sealed containers only and f~ consumption off the premises; and the location of the store to be a room partitioned off from the west half of the Fesle r Building loca tad at the southwest corner of the intersection of Eighth and Montrose Streets. Mr. Gaines made a motion that the application of Frances Fleming ba approved, and the City Clerk directed to issue tle License on"lreceipt of the license fee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Egan, and when put to a vote, the motion carried. Mr. E~an made a motion that the City Attorney draw up an aman dmmt to the Zoning Ordinance in accordance wi tb: the recommendations of the Board of Adjustment, da ted' September 28, 1940; and to ha ve notice of a he aring published; such 113 aring to be held at the next regular maeeting of the City Council. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gaines, and when put to a vote, the motion carried. Street Supt. Anderson asked for a new dU@p body for the Street truck, recommending a hydraulic dump. Mr. Harper'Imde a motion that the street Committee get bids for a body, with authority to accept the lowest bid. The Motion was seconded by Mr. Eg3.n, and when put to a vote, the motion carrie d. Mr. Harper made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gaines, that all local dealers be asked for bids on gas and oil to be purchased by tre City for one year. When put to a vote, th3 motion carried. President Keem rre. d'e the following Committee appointmen ts; the first named being chairman: FINANCE - - - Entire Council FmE & BUILDING - Harper, Miller, Egan LAWS & ORDINANCESo Egan, HarP3 r, Miller WATER- - Gaines, Egan, Keene PARK & CEMETERY - - Miller, ~ines, Keene STREETS - - - - - - Keene, Harpe r, Gaines STREET LIGHTING & SANITATION- Harper, Miller, Egan There being no further business, the Council adjourIl3 d, to meet at t1. e ca 11 of the president. ~ ~ ~ ~~. presfd")-nt 0 y Co cil ---- ~13rv:~~"" ~---r " I~/-+I The Charter provides that the Jvlayor sul:lmit to you a report of conditions and suoh recommendations as in his opinion will contribute to the welfare of the City. It is the duty of the Counoil and the employed officers of the City to Institute and Support Methods whioh will insure such welfare. I am sure it is the desire of each member of thi s Council to do 'Whatever, he can in this direction. . -~- . 'I' FINANCES , , The finances of the City are in better condition than they have been in a number of years. but it should be kept in mind that only the strictest eoonany' should be practised. fora year at least. in order to keep within a limited budget and prevent a failure to meet provided obligations upon which the entire finanoial structure of the City depends. REVENUE Thea City Water Plant is still the cbief source of revenue, for the operating expenses of the City as well as the most important servioe rendered to the citizens. For a number of y~rs this plant has had a minimum of oare and replaoement. with the result that we are now faced with a danger situation which may develop at anytime. There are also, several servioe lines. badly needed and the indications are that we have numerous leaks which should be repaired. The Department is in serious need of a liglIti truck to service and oarry on necessary work and I recommend that the Water Committee and the Super~endent of the Water Department very promptly , give the Water Department careful study. POLICE SERVICE The arrangements in the Department are not satisfaotory as the present plans provide for one permanent man to be on duty during ,the night; shi1't. There are numerous things which must be attended to during the day. and it is un- reasonable to ask a man to work 12 hours at ,night and respond to these calls during the day. On aooountof holiday business and the further fact that there are sneak thieves operating in the Cntnnn1l'\ity. I have IIIIl temporarily ,put on an extra man at $2.00 per night to act as watchman and deputy policeman to meet this condition. I would suggest the Council would make a permanent arrangement to meet the situation and .if a deputy marshal is engaged. I would suggest that the marshal on duty during the day be made Sanitary Officer in addition to his police duties. CITY LIBRARY Sinoe the City came into possession of the Library. we have been under obliga- tions to the ladies of the Woman' s Club who have taken care of the servioe. This has been an arduous. trying task. and ,we "should officially express our thanks and appreoiation and ask .them to oontinue their services for another year. The ,Counoil should appoint an individual or committee to supervise this institution. CITY STREErS =.. . Practically all ,of our streets are 15 or more years old. much beyond the normal life of suoh oonstruotion. without a resurfacing treatment having been done. Much damage is now taking plaoe due in many caees to grass and weeds grawi.ng01l trash aOO\.Dl\ulated on the sides of the street and the grass :boots growing dawn through and breaking the top sur~oe. If this could ,be cheeked and a reasonable amount of patching dOBe. the streets could be kept in fairly good condition for several more years. At present we are sweeping by hand onoe eaoh week the down town business streets. This is expensive and unsatis~otory. There are seVeral types of equipments out on the market with attaohments for sweeping.. gathering up trash. cutting grass on shoulders. mowing lots. eto.. with a capacity of 25 miles of street work per day. One of these machines would enable us to ksep our streets clean. remove much of the present trouble. save considerable cost as compared with present methods. I believe this is worth oonsideration. BEAUFITICATION The least expensive and most effective advertising any Florida city can do is the development of a continuous beautification program., I believe if a plan was set up for our people to fOlJlOW. every property ovmer can eventually be induced to cooperate so far as his own property is oonoerned and for those who (over) for any reason do n"ot oooperate1n keeping down unsightly grass and weeds on oi-byiots within the 'business 'and residential areas that the oity should arrange to out .suoh grass and oharge the cost ~ 'plus penalw, against the pDoperty and inolude it with the yearly tax bill. ~ I would .suggest the . Park Connnittee be requested to prepare a beautifioation plan for the City. stating the me of flower, or shrub which should be generally adopted. the treatment for parkway in front of property. and a yearly oontest with a small award for the best kept property under .different classifications in order to stiIDulate c~p~tition. ' , RECREATION A' careful census of the state has shown that 67 % of the tourists visiting Florida during the year indiea.tes their ohief interest is in reoreation. Clermont is still much dependent upon attracting Winter tourists and we ,should develop a larger program of reoreation and' I wouldauggest that the Council seleot a oommittee from citizens to aat as a Reoreational Committee and ask them to take oharge of the Con1nn2~ty BUilding. the recreational features.in the different parks, and' suoh other'means as they may find suitable for a' larger Recreational Program. ELECTRIC POWER The f'ranohise with the Florida,Puolio Service Company MS exPired' some time a80.' I believe we are entitled to better equipment a.nd servioe as well as a revision downward of service rates. I suggest that a study of.this qUestion be made and a report be furnished the Counoil for aotion. ~ : -- . --~ .'