HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL MINUTES 1950-12-11 Page 239
MINUTES OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH REGULAR MEETING
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
DECEMBER 11, 1950
The twenty-fifth regular meeting of the Council of the City of Livonia
was held on December 11, 1950, at 33110 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan. The
meeting was called to order at approximately 8:02 P M by the President of the
Council, Harry S Wolfe. Roll was called with the following result: Present--
Harry S Wolfe, Wilson W. Edgar, Raymond E. Grimm, Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn,
William Taylor and John Whitehead Absent--None
The minutes of the twenty-fourth regular meeting held November 27, 1950,
were read and on motion of Councilman John Whitehead, seconded by Councilman Wilson
W Edgar, and unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen
named as present in the roll call of this meeting, it was:
0176 RESOLVED, that the minutes of the twenty-fourth regular
meeting of the Council held November 27, 1950, be and hereby are approved
as read
Petition #13 for change of zoning classification was brought back before
the Council for reconsideration. In connection with this matter, a letter dated
December 8, 1950, from Robert A. Acchione and a letter dated December 7, 1950,
from Arthur G. Monroe, et al, were read On motion of Councilman Wilson W. Edgar,
seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and unanimously carried by the affirmative
vote of all of the Councilmen named as present in the roll call of this meeting, it
was:
R 077/ RESOLVED, that the action of the Council at its twenty-fourth
regular meeting held November 27, 1950, in rejecting the communication
from the City Planning Commission in regard to petition #13 for change of
zoning classification, be and hereby is rescinded; that said petition #13
together with said letters from Robert A Acchione and Arthur G. Monroe,
et al, be and hereby are referred to the City Planning Commission for its
further recommendations, with a suggestion from the Council that said
petition #13 be granted and the zoning ordinance amended accordingly,
except as to land owned by Mr F B Hall and the adjoining 50 feet of
frontage on Plymouth Road lying immediately East of said land owned by
Mr. F. B. Hall, the said 50 feet to be considered as a buffer.
Page 240
Bell Creek Farms Plat #1 was presented to the Council for approval.
Councilman John Whitehead made a motion that the following resolution be adopted.
N aha RESOLVED, that Bell Creek Farms Plat #1 be returned to
Herald Hamill, City Engineer, that he present to the Council at its
next regular meeting a written report as to whether the roads in said
subdivision have been properly completed according to the standards
and requirements recognized by the City of Livonia; and that said report
show the cost of completing the roads, if the same have not been com—
pleted and his recommendations as to a bond
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Harvey Jahn and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result.
YEAS: Raymond E. Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe
NAYS: None
The President declared the foregoing resolution passed
The clerk next presented to the Council the plat of Melody Manor together
with a letter from Herald Hamill, City Engineer, dated December L , 1950, stating the
cost of completing the roads therein will be $2,631.05 Councilman Harvey Jahn made
a motion that the following resolution be adopted:
4 a73 RESOLVED, that as a prerequisite to the approval of the Plat of
Melody Manor, the owners of said subdivision shall furnish to the City of
Livonia, either a cash bond in the amount of $2800.00 or a surety bond
in the amount of $3000.00, said bond to be in a form approved by the
City Attorney.
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman William Taylor and a roll call
vote was taken with the following result:
YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and harry S
Wolfe
NAYS• None.
The President declared the foregoing resolution passed
B. E. Taylor's Schoolcraft Manor Plat #2 was next presented to the Council
Councilman Nettie Carey made a motion that the following resolution be adopted:
Page 241
A
;79 RESOLVED, that the proposed Plat of B E Taylor's Schoolcraft
Manor Plat #2, as submitted to the Council and identified by the
signature of the City Clerk, be and hereby istentatively approved on the
condition that final approval shall not be made until the plat is sub—
mitted according to law and antil all proper improvements are completed,
including construction of roads, or adequate bond in lieu thereof
furnished; that all improvements shall be subject to the approval of the
City Engineer
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Harvey Jahn and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result-
YEAS:
esult•YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S.
Wolfe
NAYS: None.
The President declared the foregoing resolution passed.
Plat of Sleepy Hollow Estates was next presented to the Council for
tentative approval Councilman Harvey Jahn made a motion that the following
resolution be adopted:
a 7 RESOLVED, that the proposed plat of Sleepy Hollow Estates,
as submitted to the Council and identified by the signature of the City
Clerk, be and hereby is tetatively approved on the condition that final
approval shall not be made until the plat is submitted according to law
and until all proper improvements are completed, including construction
of roads, or adequate bond in lieu thereof furnished, that all improve—
ments shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer.
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and a roll call
vote was taken with the following result:
YEAS Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S.
Wolfe
NAYS: None
The President declared the foregoing resolt<tion passed
The City Clerk read to the Council the recommendations of the
Electrical Board of Review as to proposed amendments in Ordinance #16 On motion
of Councilman Raymond E Grimm, seconded by Councilman Nilson W. Edgar and unanimously
111 carried by the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen .lamed as present in the
roll call of this meeting, it was :
Page 242
0 .274' RESOLVED, that the recommendations of the Electrical Board of
Review as to amending OrdLiance #16 be and hereby are referred to
III "filliam 'a Brashear, City Attorney, for his report
The report of Leo 0 Nye, Justice of the Peace, was read and on motion
made by Councilman Wilson W Edgar, seconded by Councilman Nettie Carey and
unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen named as pre—
sent in the roll call of this meeting, it was :
A c77 RESOLVED, that the report of the Justice of the Peace, Leo 0.
Nye, be accepted and placed on file
Communication dated November 29, 1950, from Ralph Kotila, Business
lianager of the Livonia Civic Chorus, was read and placed on file.
The following report was made by the Committee of the ;`Thole
Said committee met December 6, 1950, at the City Hall at approximately
3:30 P is , at which time and place the follow--ng persons were present- Councilman
Wolfe, Edgar, Grimm and Jahn, :r Roth of Hubbell, Roth and Clark; Herald Hamill,
III City Engineer; ::larie Clark, City Clerk; and lilliam W. Brashear, City Attorney.
A discussion took place as to the sewer project in Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, the
progress to date on such project, the rates to be charged and the proposed
employment of Lir Schimmel as a bond consultant
Councilman :tilli.am Taylor made a motion that the following resolution be
adopted
1- °" ' RESOLVED, that the City of Livonia employ Mr. Schimmel, a
mur .cipal bond consultant, for the purpose of prepay; ng a prospectus
for the sale of bonds in order to finance the sewer project in Sections
25, 26, 35 and 36
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman lettie Carey and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result:
YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson VI Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe
111
NAYS: None
The President declared the foregoing resolution passed.
Page 243
The City Clerk read a report of Councilman Milian Taylor on purchase
of a F Vl D truck for the Department of Public Works On motion of Councilman
Wilson Vl Edgar, seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and unanimously carried
by the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen named as present in the roll call
of this meeting, it was
RESOLVED, that the report of Councilman William Taylor
be accepted and placed on file.
Councilman Wilson VI Edgar, as chairman of the insurance committee, pre-
sented copies of letters which were mailed to insurance writers participating in
insurance commissions approved by the Council. On motion of Councilman John
Whitehead, seconded by Councilman Harvey Jahn and unanimously carried by the affirm-
ative vote of all of the Councilmen named as present in the roll call of this meeting,
it was .
RESOLVED, that the report of Councilman Wilson V7 Edgar be
accepted and placed on file
Councilman Raymond E Grimm submitted a detailed report as to the Livonia
Industrial Development Meeting and which Livonia Industrial Development Meeting and
tour o' the City of Livonia, which took place December 6, 1950, and which had been
arranged by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce Mr Grimm reported that this meeting
was attended by Harry May, Industrial Commissioner of Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Company, William Hurley, Staff Engineer, Detroit Edison Company; T. Ledyard Blakman,
Executive Director of Detroit Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission; Harold
McClure; Lester J Steel and C Dwight Wood, Michigan Department of Economic
Development On motion of Councilman Raymond E Grimm, seconded by Councilman •
William Taylor and unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all of the
Councilmen named as present in the roll call of this meeting, it was •
A 0179 RESOLVED, that the Livonia Chamber of Commerce be sent a
letter of appreciation for bringing the above mentioned men to tour the
City of Livonia, and that the report of Councilman Grimm be placed on
file
The City Clerk read a communication from the Water Resources Commission
dated November 22, 1950, and on motion of Councilman Harvey Jahn, seconded by
I
Page 244
Councilman Nettie Carey and unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all of
the Councilmen named as present in the roll call of this meeting, it was .
111 n olio RESOLVED, that the communication from the +`tater Resources
Commission dated November 22, 1950, containing an Order of Determination
as to the sewer project in Sections 25, 26, 35, and 36, be placed on
file.
The following petitions for change of zoning classification were presented
to the Council• Petition #21 of A H Fulton, et al, Petition #22 of Sheldon Land
Comparr and Petition #23 of Margaret Rye On motion of Councilman Harvey Jahn,
seconded by Councilman William Taylor and unanimously carried by the affirmative vote
of all of the Councilmen named as present in the roll call of this meeting, it was -
4- aP/ RESOLVED, that petitions No 21, 22, and 23, for change of
zoning classification, together with drawings prepared by Sheldon Land
Co., be and hereby are referred to the City Planning Commission for a
hearing thereon and recommendations according to law.
A ten minute recess was called, afterwhich the meeting was resumed with
all members of the Council present.
IIICommunication from Franklin Homes Company dated November 16, 1950, was
read On motion of Councilman Raymond E Grimm, seconded by Councilman Wilson W
Edgar and unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen named
as present in the roll call of this meeting, it was -
-4;g:1 RESOLVED, that the president of the council appoint a committee
of three to work with the City Attorney in studying and making recommendations
as to a new building code.
The president then appointed the following members for the building code
c ommi.ttee : Grimm, Edgar and Carey.
The need for purchasing a vaccine for dogs was discussed Councilman
Harvey Jahn made a motion that the following resolution be adopted:
/9 a P3 RESOLVED, that an appropriation of $400 00 be and hereby is
made for the purchase of vaccine to be used in the vaccination of dogs
in the City of Livonia and in the carrying out of the vaccination and
licensing program, that this appropriation be and hereby is charged against
the contingency fund and that payment of said $400 00 by the City Treasurer
be and hereby is directed
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman William Taylor and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result •
Page 245
YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John imitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe.
NAYS: None
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed
Councilman Nettie Carey made a motion that the following resolution be
adopted:
a 4/ RESOLVED, that the books of the Justice of the Peace of the
City of Livonia for the past six months be audited by the City Auditor,
Herbert Ferry
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and a roll call
vote was taken with the following result
YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W. Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
rrolfe.
NAYS• None
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed.
111 The Council next considered the matter of setting up petty cash accounts
Councilman William Taylor made a motion that the following resolution be adopted:
&P5 RESOLVED, that the following departments of the City of Livonia
City Clerk's Office, Police Department, City Treasurer's Office and the
Department of Public Works be and hereby are authorized to establish and
maintain petty cash accounts not to exceed $25.00 for each department;
that said petty cash accounts be maintained subject to the direction of the
City Auditor as to procedure and that reimbursement of such accounts be
handled on duly authorized vouchers and said disbursements entered on
imprest vouchers with statement attached
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and a roll call 1
vote was taken with the following result
YEAS Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe.
NAYS. N one
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed.
The bill of Civil Service Commissioner John Campbell was presented and
considered Councilman Nettie Carey made a motion that the following resolution be
adopted-
f
Page 246
A AP6 RESOLVED, that the bill of John Campbell of the Civil Service
Commission for reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $10 50 be and
Illhereby is approved and payment thereof by the City Treasurer ordered
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman William Taylor and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result:
YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson 'u Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe
NAYS None
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed
The City Clerk presented bills for payment and Councilman Harvey Jahn
made a motion that the following resolution be adopted:
A An RESOLVED, that the following bills :
Executive • • . e 382.20
Legislative 212.15
City Clerk . 79 45
Judicial 13 80
Finance & Accounting 491.10
City Hall . . 161 92
Election Commission 765 1.0
Civil Service 70.29
Department of Public Safety
Police $3,00 411
:ire 330.90
i;uilding 268 65 4,079.99
Department of Public ','corks . 2,970 60
Planning & Zoning Commission 300 44
Civilian Defense • • • 11 19
Total . $9,538 53
be and hereby are approved and that the City Treasurer be and hereby
is ordered to pay the same.
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Nettie Carey and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result
YEAS: Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S.
Wolfe
NAYS. hone
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed.
, Page 247
The council accepted the refund from the i?ichigan State Accident Fund
111 in the amount of ;124 .72 on Firemen's Insurance Policy #31600
The following matters were referred to Wi.iliam Brashear, City Attorney,
for investigation and report• Bill from Hubbell, Roth & Clark, bill from Wayne
County Board of Road Commissioners and the suggested amendment of Ordinance #12.
The council next considered the failure of the Detroit Concrete Products
Corporation to complete resurfacing of streets in Rosedale Gardens by December 1,
1950, in accordance with contract. Councilman William Taylor made a motion that
the following resolution be adopted.
,g 0141 RESOLVED, that the City Attorney investigate the failure of
Detroit Concrete Products Corporation to complete its contract for
resurfacing of Rosedale Gardens' streets by December 1, 1950; and that
the Director of Public 'Forks, Lester French, and Herald Hamill, City
Engineer, likewise submit a report as to the reasons for such delay,
all of which reports shall be submitted December 18, 1950
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Wilson W Edgar and a roll call
III vote was taken with the following result.
YEAS Raymond E Grimm, Wilson 7 Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe.
NAYS: None.
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed
The matter of carmensation for the Director of Public Works was discussed
and on motion of Council Harvey Jahn, seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and
unanimously carried In the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen named as present
in the roll call of this sweeting, it was
)9 alif RESOLVED, that the president appoint a committee to investigate
and report on compensation for the Director of Public Works
The president then appointed to such committee the following: Councilman
William Taylor, Harvey Jahn and John Whitehead.
IE The City Clerk requested instructions from the council as to fixing a
deadline for accepting matters for consideration at a council meeting. Councilman
Harvey Jahn made a motion that the following resolution be adopted.
Page 248
�} a9O RESOLVED, that all matters for consideration by the council
at any particular meeting be filed with the City Clerk not later than
1 .00 P M Friday next preceding such meeting, except as to emergency
matters, and that emergency matters may be brought before the council
at any time on order of the president of the council or ark three members
of the council
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman John Whitehead and a roll call vote
was taken with the following result
YEAS Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe
NAYS• N one.
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed.
T'oe matter of fixing regular meetings of the council was next carefully
considered. Councilman Harvey Jahn made a motion that the following resolution
be adopted•
lid a 9/ RESOLVED, that commencing January 1, 1951, the Second, Third
and Fourth Monday's of each month be and hereby are designated as regular
meeting dates of the council of the City of Livonia; that regular meetings
be held at 8 00 P M on each of said dates, unless any of said dates are
holidays, in which case the meeting shall be held at 8 00 P M on the
next succeeding day which is not a holiday
The foregoing motion was seconded by Councilman Raymond E Grimm and a roll call
vote was taken with the following result
YEAS. Raymond E Grimm, Wilson W. Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S
Wolfe
NAYS. None
The president declared the foregoing resolution passed
Councilman Raymond E Grimm read the following prayer prepared by Doctor
Henry Hitt Crane :
A POLITICIAN'S PRAYER
0 God, here at home, away from the office, free from the crowd, out
of the public eye, a plain man with the weaknesses, ambitions, foibles and
conceits common to human kind, I am alone with Thee.
Page 249
I am grateful that I know Thee, and am known of Thee Thou canst
understand - and help me.
I want to do right, be honest, keep clean Deep in my heart I know
there is no abiding satisfaction save in such self-respect as is born of
integrity Strengthen me to spurn the so-called spoils of office Keep me
free from the treason of prostituting my public office to private gain.
Save me from cynicism, 0 God, and from the dread disease of disillusion
ment It is not easy to keep one's faith - in anything Urged by my fellow
citizens to do my public duty and run for office, I assented, wanting above
all else to serve the highest interests of the greatest number of my
compatriots. Then came the villification, incredible insinuations, and the
caustic caricatures I tried, dear God, to keep my campaign clean, con-
structive, honest But the truth I spoke was "twisted by knaves to make a
trap for fools " Yet even so the people trusted me They voted for me I
won Now I have got to make good I cannot let them doom
But today I am told that I must "play the game" if I want to get any-
thing accomplished, that I must compromise my convictions, pay political
debts r never incurred, play favorites, trade votes, take a little graft
here and a lot more there, defer to the self-appointed bosses, fawn upon
the influential, flout or forget the riffraff, befuddle or fool the masses.
God, keep me from growing bitter, hard-boiled, vindictive Forbid that I
should believe these traditional lies But never let me be so naive that
r become an easy prey for the racketeer, nor so trustful that I forget to
keep my eyes open to what is going on
Gird me with courage to fight corruption wherever it lifts its vile
head to make sin profitable and uprightness hard
Lift me above party loyalty to a passion for the common good, and be-
yond patriotism to supreme concern for world welfare
Thus, 0 God of my soul, teach me to pray -with my vote and my life
what I so easily say with my voice and my lips . "Thy Kingdom come, Thy
Will be done " Amen.
On motion of Councilman Wilson W. Edgar, seconded by Councilman Nettie
Carey and unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all of the Councilmen named
as present in the roll call of this meeting, it was:
'9"a9,Z RESOLVED, that the foregoing prayer be spread upon the minutes
of this meeting
The proposed traffic ordinance which was introduced by Councilman Raymond E
Grimm at the 24th regular meeting of the council held on Znovember 27, 1950, and
which was entitled as follows : "An Ordinance Regulating Traffic and the Use and
111 Operation of Vehicles Upon the Public Streets and Thoroughfares of the City of Livonia,
Providing for the Disposal of Abandoned Vehicles, Providing a Penalty for Violation
of this Ordinance and Repealing all other Ordinances and Sections of Ordinances in
Conflict Herewith," was read and a roll call vote thereon was taken with the following
Page 250
result
YEAS. Raymond E Grimm, Mason 7. Edgar, John Whitehead,
Nettie Carey, Harvey Jahn, William Taylor and Harry S.
Wolfe
NAYS None
The president declared the foregoing ordinance adopted and effective on the date
of publication, December 22, 1950.
On moti on of Councilman Harvey Jahn, seconded by Councilman aaymond E.
Grimm and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 12 :44 A M , December
12, 1950
4400V 410" :of
'.t Clark, City Clerk
Attested
i
I
ry S e e, President /