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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-25-1971 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MARCH 25, 1971 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session March 25, 1971 , at the hour of 9:00 a .m. in the Municipal Building of said City . Mr . Cecere presided with Mr . Howell and Mr . Benner present . The following business was had to-wit: Mr . Howell moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting seconded by Mr . Benner , and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried . Mr . Cecere reported having had a dog complaint on Indiana Avenue from Mr . John . Dodson. Dog Warden Jim Ferguson said he had twice asked the people to come before the Board and they- did not appear, but he would check it out . He reported that the complaint from Councilman Blackwoodhad been taken care of . He said he had been off the streets for four days because he was having his truck painted. -- Don Brown of the Richmond Medical _Supply, 45 North 8th Street, requested the Board authorize the painting of a yellow curb in front of his establishment since his business deals with many elderly and handicapped persons . He asked that a sign_ reading "10-Minutes For Medical Supply Only", be erected. Traffic Captain Paul- Martin said he is .against restricted parking and there is no way to enforce it . Mr . Cecere said the City could not provide on-street parking for private merchants . Mr . Benner said he sympathized with the problem but it should have been considered in the choice of location . Mr . Howell said the Board could not set the precedent of providing on-street parking since all merchants would request it . The request was denied. Francis Daniels requested the Board authorize the closing of South 10th Street from L to M Streets, as a hazard since it is not used and not paved . The Board took the request under advise- ment until next meeting . Street Commissioner Elmer Toschlog reported that the C & 0 Rail - road has started working on its crossings which need repair , but no reply has been received from the Penn Central ° Co. to the Board ' s complaints regarding their crossings . He said the crossing near AVCO is particularly bad-. Mr . Cecere called the Cincinnati Office of Penn Central and told railroad officials that the Board would patch' the crossing temporarily but if nothing was 'done by the railroad, the Board would order the track closed . Building Commissioner Ed Goins reported that a house at 737 North 16th Street, owned. by' Walter Jenkins , Kelly Hotel , on North "E" Street, was- condemned December 11 , 1969 and is still standing. He asked the owner be notified by the Board to appear before it to show cause why th.e order of the Building Commissioner should not be carried out and the building be demolished . Mr . Howell moved the Board approve the request, seconded by Mr . Benner, and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Commi-ssioner Goi.ns._r.equested the Board approve the attendance of Thomas Koorsen at the Indiana Spring Inspector School , Apr-il 19, 20, and 21 . Funds ar.e available. Mr . Howell moved the' Board approve the request, seconded by Mr . Benner, and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr . Cecere reported that the order to sell bonds- -for the RP&L power station has been approvedby the Public Service Commission last Friday , advertisements would be made March 31 to April 7 , he will go to New York for ratings March 30 , and bonds will be sold April 15 , . 1971 . Board of Works Minutes March 25, 1971 Page 2 Mayor Byron Klute read the following letter: State of. Indianapolis Public Service Commission 901 State Office Building . Indianapolis 4, Indiana March 23, 1971 Mr . Andrew C . Cecere City Attorney City of Richmond, Indiana Dear Mr . Cecere: In accordance with our understanding of several weeks ago, I have discussed the Richmond Water matter with Mr . O 'Day and Mr . Groves . The Water Company has vol - untarily suggested that they will seek a corrected order establishing billing for the new rates only for water consumed after the new rates went into effect . Proper. credits will be given to adjust previous billings . Sincerely, /s/ George B . Jeffrey Commissioner Mr . Howell moved the Board order a Street light installed on an existing pole on North "B " Street between North 17th and 18th Streets , as per requested from Councilman Blackwood, seconded by Mr . Benner , and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Police Chief, Donald Strahan, read the following charges to the Board members: Pursuant to Statute, I hereby formally wish to prefer charges against Officer Timothy Michael Tevis for the following causes: 1 . Disobedience of orders (four counts ) . 2 . Leaving post before being properly relieved . 3 . Leaving post or station or being absent from duty without permission ., With regard to charge 1 . (A) Counts number 1 and 2 . On Thursday morning March 18, 1971 , Officer Tevis on reporting to duty at Police Headquarters, Municipal Building, was assigned by Lt . Bailey to patrol district four . At about 7: 15 a .m. Officer Tevis drove his vehicle to the Police Garage on South 4t-h Street for gas , aconversation ensued between Officer Tevis and Captain Blose, a Superior Officer and his Trick Captain . Captain Blose ordered Officer- Tevis to return immediately to his assigned district (District Four) . Instead of returning to his district (beat) , Officer Tevis drove his cruiser to Police Headquarters Municipal Building, which is not a part of his assigned district, parked his cruiser, contacted Lt . Bailey, who informed Captain Blose that Officer Tevis was at Headquarters and had refused his (Bailey ' s) direct order to return to his assigned district; Officer Tevis did not report to his assigned district (beat) . (B) Count_number 3 . Subsequently on or about 8: 14 a .m. on March 18, 1971 , Captain Blose returned to Police Headquarters at the Municipal Building and found Officer Tevis in the Squad Room playing cards . Captain Blose then gave Officer Tevis a direct order to return to his district which during all of this time was unprotected. Officer Tevis said "I won' t go"and refused to return to his district and did in fact not return to his district or beat . Board of Works Minutes March 25, 1971 Page 3 (C) Count number 4. On Friday morning March 19, 1971 , Officer Tevis reported• to Police Headquarters at 7: 00 a .m. He was assigned to District Four forhis patrol by Lt . Bailey. He refused to go to his assigned district, and did not go to h.is assigned district . (Refer to page 15 Article VII General Disciplinary Rules #8 of 111 the rules and regulations as set out in the Manual for Department of Police Richmond, Indiana - adopted the 15th day of June, 1967 by the Board of Public Works & Safety of the City of Richmond . ) With regard to charges 2 and 3 : (A) On Thursday morning, March 18, 1971 , Officer Tevis left his post , the patrol of District Four , and drove to Police headquarters , Municipal Building, which is outside his assigned district, parked his vehicle, all without being properly relieved and without permission to leave his assigned district, having left said district without any patrol or protection. (Refer to page 12 Article VI General Rules and Regulations , Paragraph E - and pages 15 and 16 Article VII General Disciplinary Rules #10 and #11 as set out in the Manual for Department of Police Richmond, Indiana adopted the 15th day of June, 1967, by the Board of Public Works and Safety) . Submitted by, /s/ Donald L . Strahan Chief of Police City Attorney Cecere moved that the charges filed by the Chief of Police be made a part of the minutes of the meeting, seconded by City Controller Howell . City Attorney Cecere moved and City Controller Howell seconded, that, pursuant to statute, Officer Tevis be served with a written notice notifying him that the Board of Public Works and Safety will conduct a hearing on the charges preferred, on• Wednesday, April 14, 1971 'at 10: 00 a .m. , . in the Municipal Building- of Richmond, Indiana, and further , that a copy of the written notice sent to Officer Tevis be incorporated herein and made a part ofthe minutes of this Board, and said notice shall read as follows: Board of Public Works & Safety Richmond, Indiana- March 25, 1971 Officer Timothy Michael Tevis 930 Sheridan Street - Richmond, Indiana Dear Officer Tevis: Please be advised that .on. Thursday, March 25, 1971 , you - were charged before this Board with the following: 1 . Disobedience of orders ( four counts) . 2 . Leaving post before being properly relieved. 3 . Leaving post or station or being absent from duty without permission . Enclosed please find a copy of the charges , and the explanations thereof, the same having been filed with this Board, and incorporated into the minutes of said Board and made a part of the record of said Board . Please be further advised that the minutes of the Board, which include said charges and original of the enclosed letter, are filed at the office of the City Clerk . Board of Works Minutes March 25, 1971 • Page 4 (Tevis letter .cont ' d. ) Please be further advised that pursuant to- statute, Burn' s Indiana Statutes., Annotated, Sec,.-. 48-.6105, notice is hereby given that the Board of Public Works & Safety . •of the City of Richmond, Indiana , will conduct a hearin.g; . . on the above charges on Wednesday , April 14, 1971 , at. ten o' clock, a .m. , est, at the Board of Works room in the Municipal Building . Your appearance is requested. Sincerely, /s/ (Mrs . ) - Lotte- Hoskins • Clerk of the Board • • Trafff-c Captain Paul Martin reported that a 22 ton truck hit a • tree limb on - Hunt Street, knocking the driver out of the cab, resulting in requests to have the trees trrimmed . Mr . Cecere suggested that 'the trees are easily visible and- drivers 's-hould take care- to avoid them. • Captain Martin recommended- the Board authorize changing the turn arrow at S . W. ist Street and` National Road from a trailing arrow to a leading arrow for north-bound traffic, eliminating the left turn only arrow. State Highway had indicated they would- approve the change . Mr . Benner moved the Board approve the request, seconded by Mr . Howell 'and on-unanimous voice vote the motion was carried . Chief Strahan reported that everyting is normal at the High School . Captain Martin reported that the signing . of 10th end- 11th Streets for one-way has been delayed due to the Water Company digging on Main Street . • Mr . Howell r.eported.. that he had had complaints regarding broken glass. in the alley at S . W. -.3rd Street and "D" Street, near Sonsini.' s grocery . Mr . Howell moved the- Board order the Street Commissioner .to clean the alley and notify-.the-. grocery store - owner that. it is his responsibility to police the area,- seconded by Mr . Benner, . and . on unanimous voice vote_- the mot-ion was carried. Mr . Howell announced that Monday , March 29, 1971 , the dog tags will go on sale at the City Building switchboard. Present tags expire May 31 , 1971 . Mr . Howell announced he had sold five of the used cars owned and for sale by the City . • - Mr . Benner reported that he has met with the County Engineer and four consultants with a veiw to hiring one of the consultants to do a feasibility study for replacing the North 19th Street grade crossing with a new bridge, to go across 20th Street and provide access to the north. west industrial. area . There being no -further business on motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned . • Andrew -C . _Cecere, - President IIP • ATTEST: Lotte Hoskins, City Clerk