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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