HomeMy Public PortalAbout1957-05-20 Meeting217
A telegram was read from Mr. Gordon T. Butler, Secretary of the
Florida League of Municipalities, asking that Bal Harbour support the bill to
return a one -cent gasoline tax to the municipalities. The Council agreed that
they were not in favor of any further taxation in any form.
The Council then considered the six months' audit of the Village
operation, and on motion of Mr. Hroeman, seconded by Mr. Landis, the audit was
approved.
There being no further business before the meeting, on motion duly
made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned.
After adjournment, the Council met to discuss other matters and were
called back into session by Mayor Beatty.
Mr. Broeman said that he had been asked by numerous voters if absentee
ballots could not be had for the coming election. Mr. Anderson said that this
would not be too difficult and could be taken care of if the Council wished.
After discussion, on motion of Mr. Broeman, seconded by Mr. Collins, Resolution
No. 44, adopting Chapter 101 of the Florida Statutes, 1955, was adopted
unanimously setting forth regulations for absentee ballots. The Clerk was then
instructed to notify all registered voters by post card of this additional
privilege.
The meeting was then re -adjourned.
Attests
"`e-'r''�.-
Village Clerk
MAY 204. 1957
The Council of Bel Harbour Vi
Hall on Monday, May 20, 1957 at 10:00
inducting the new members into office.
There
were present:
Messrs.
Collins,
Elect Ha
Also present were W. H. Webb,
Wetterer, Village Clerk; and Thomas An
Mayor Beatty called the meeti
Village Clerk for a report of the elec
F�
Mayor
llage met
A. M., for
Beatty, Br
Landis, a
rt and Gra
Village M
derson, Vi
ng to orde
tion held
at the Village
the purpose of
oeman, Brown,
nd Councilmen -
ham.
anager; Mary
liege Attorney.
r and asked the
on May 7, 1957.
MAY 204. 1957
218
The Village Clerk reported that at the May 7, 1957 election,
127 electors exercised their voting right in person, or by absentee
ballot, constituting 88% of the 144 registered voters. The votes
were counted by herself and election clerks Ruth R. Broeman and
Helen M. Gilman, in the presence of witnesses and found to be as fol—
lows: John F. Beatty — 98; Frank C. Hart, Jr.. — 85; David B. Graham
64; Robert G. Landis — 53; Herbert W. White — 26.
Thereby, John F. Beatty and Frank C. Hart, Jr. will serve
until the election of 1961, and David B. Graham until 1959, with
Harry A. Brown and Dwight W. Broeman. Upon motion by Mr. Brown,
seconded by Mr. Collins, and unanimously voted, the election report
was accepted as read.
At the request c•f Mayor Beatty motion was made by Mr. Collins
and seconded by Mr. Landis to adjourn the meeting of the old Council
and install the new Councilmen.
Mayor Beatty asked Messrs. Hart and Graham to come forward
and take the anti —communistic oath. The Village Clerk then adminis—
tered the oath.
Mayor Beatty stated that he would like to thank Mr. Landis
and Mr. Collins for the cooperation given the Council during the past
years.
Mr. Brown said he wished to compliment Mr. Landis for the
marvelous job he had done in cooperating with Mr. Webb on the Tax
Districts and the new Voting Districts.
Mr. Broeman remarked that it was a pleasure to have worked
with both Mr. Landis and Mr, Collins.
After the new Councilmen had taken their chairs, Mayor Beatty
asked that the five Councilmen take the oath of office, which was
duly administered by the Village Clerk.
Mayor Beatty requested the Council to appoint a temporary
chairman for nominations for the appointment of the new Mayor. Mr.
Hart moved and Mr. Graham seconded, and it was unanimously voted that
Mr. Beatty retain the chair as temporary chairman.
As temporary chairman, Mr. Beatty requested nominations for
the office of Mayor. Mr. Hart nominated Mr. Harry Brown and seccnded
by Mr. Graham the vote was unanimous that Mr. Brown be appointed to
the office of Mayor, and was duly sworn in by the Village Clerk. The
Chairman then relinquished the chair, Mr. Brown was seated as Mayor
and called for nominations for Assistant Mayor.
On motion of Mr, Graham, seconded by Mr. Beatty, Mr. Frank
Hart was unanimously voted to the office of Assistant Mayor and was
sworn in by the Clerk.
Mayor Brown recommended that the next regular meeting of
the Council be held on Saturday, June 22, 1957 at 9:30 A. M., inas—
much as Mr. Hart would not be able to attend the previously scheduled
meeting of June 15. The Council was agreeable to the change.
MA/_204_1957
219
Mayor Brown explained for the benefit of the new Councilmen
that minutes are typed and mailed to the Councilmen prior to the next
meeting. On motion of Mr. Hart, seconded by Mr. Graham, the minutes
of the April 20th meeting were unanimously accepted.
Mayor Brown asked Mr„ Anderson for his comments on the Home
Rule Charter. Mr. Anderson stated that the Village should vote
against the Charter, that if the Charter was adopted it would auto—
matically put the County Commissioners out of business, and it could
only mean a state of confusion if this was allowed to happen. He
said that as far as this Village is concerned, the matter of assess—
ing taxes will be completely taken away from us and the jurisdiction
of the Council will be curtailed. He stated further that this Vill—
age has a great deal of important business property within its limits
and the integrity of the Village should be preserved. That this
Village can gain nothing by the adoption of this Charter, but it can
lose a great deal. Mr. Anderson commented that there is very little
we can do, and our only hope is that there will not be a big vote for
the Charter.
Mayor Brcwn stated that even if this Council did vote against
the Charter it wouldn't make much difference at this late date.
Mr. Anderson remarked that he is rather opposed to Home Rule
in general, but this Charter is not all right, and even people who
do believe in Home Rule don't believe in this Charter as it has been
proposed.
Mr. Webb explained that if this Charter is not approved,
new Charters will have to be drawn and submitted to the people until
such time as one is approved.
Mr. Anderson explained that the Dade County League of Muni—
cipalities had met with the Charter Board and asked that the Board
incorporate in the Charter certain provisions that will help the
towns, and the Charter Board has declared that they have made provis—
ions so the individual governments of the towns and municipalities
will not be affected. He said that they have stated that the Ordi—
nances and Charters will not be affected, but that the Board has not
kept faith with us and have ignored the recommendations of the League,
and as he sees it they propose to take over the Municipalities.
Mayor Brown asked what the feeling of the Council was on
this Charter.
Mr. Beatty said that it's not going to do much good one way
or another whether the Council is for it or against it.
Mr. Anderson commented that it wouldn't do any harm if the
people knew that the Council were against it.
Mayor Brown asked Mr. Webb for his opinion as to what effect
a vote one way or the other would have at this late date.
Mr. Webb stated that we could call the registered voters in
Bal Harbour at once and advise them that the Council passed a Reso—
lution confirming or opposing this Charter.
MAy_20,a_12:1
220
Mr. Beatty moved that the Town Council go cn record as being
opposed to the Home Rule Charter as now written, seconded by Mr. Hart,
the motion was unanimously carried.
Mayor Brown requested a report regarding Mr. Zurwelie's Groin
Plan, and Mr. Webb stated that Mr. Anderson had been asked to draw an
Ordinance when he received Mr. Zurwelle's plan. Mr. Anderson informed
the Council that he had only received the plan a day or two ago and
hadn't had time to draw an Ordinance.
Mayor Brown said at this time he would like to praise Mr.
Beatty for the very excellent job he has done as Mayor in the past two
years, and presented him with a gavel inscribed with his name and the
years he served as Mayor.
There being no further business on the agenda, on motion of
Mr. Beatty, seconded by Mr. Hart, the meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
Village Clerk
JUNE 224_1957
Mayor
The Bal Harbour Village Council met on Saturday, June 22,
1957 at 9:30 A. M. in the Village Hall.
All the members of the Council were present.
Also present were W. H. Webb, Village Manager; Thomas H.
Anderson, Village Attorney; and Mary T. Wetterer, Village Clerk.
Upon motion by Mr. Beatty, seconded by Mr. Hart, the minutes
of the May 20, 1957 meeting were accepted unanimously.
Mayor Brown asked Mr. Webb to read to the Council Ordinance
No. 55 which adopts an overall groyne plan for the oceanfront. After
reading said ordinance Mr. Webb explained to the Council that this plan
is a scientific approach to the groyne problem. Mr. Webb stated fur—
ther that the Government was in favor of having an overall plan and it
is something that we must have. Mayor Brown remarked that this plan
to control the location of the groynes was for the benefit of all the
people. Thereupon, on motion of Mr. Beatty, seconded by Mr. Graham,
Ordinance No. 55, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE CON—
STRUCTION OF GROINS; PROVIDING FOR THE HEIGHT,
LENGTH AND MECHANICAL OPERATION OF SAID GROINS;
AND DESCRIBING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS,
was unanimously adopted.
TUNE 22s 1957