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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 14 1989 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD NOVEMBER 14, 1989 - 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 14th day of November, 1989, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers, Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem. Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II David W. Moore* Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Audwin Samuel Councilman,Ward III Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk *Arrived at 1: 20 p.m. -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Kirk Muller, Beaumont Bible Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Smith. -000- Mayor Meyers said Councilman Samuel telephoned and indicated he would not be able to attend Council. -000- Mayor Meyers announced that an invitation has been extended to all churches to join in a Thanksgiving Service for a time of prayer and thanksgiving, a tradition that began during the Sesquicentennial Celebration. The third Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service will be at 7: 00 p.m. Tuesday, November 21, 1989, at the Julie Rogers Theater. A representative group of ministers working on this special service in attendance at Council were introduced by Mayor Meyers. In attendance were Bishop Bernard Gantor, Catholic Diocese; the Reverend G. W. Daniels, Sunlight Baptist Church; the Reverend Rayfield Walker, West Tabernacle Baptist Church; the Reverend Von Dawson; First United Methodist Church; the Reverend E. L. Jones, Scott Olive Baptist Church; the Reverend W. J. Proctor, Paradise Baptist Church and Chairman of the Board for Trinity Valley Baptist District Association Emergency Shelter -307- November 14, 1989 for the Homeless, the Reverend H. P. Tatmon, a Baptist church in Silsbee, and moderator for the Trinity Valley Baptist Association Emergency Shelter for the Homeless, the Reverend Don Stabe, Minister of Music at Cathedral in the Pines, and the Reverend Michael Dean, Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. Sam Bean and Mrs. Delia Harrington have been appointed Honorary Co- Chairmen of the Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service because they are "symbolic of the many citizens in our community who continually do things to benefit others, " Mayor Meyers said. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "Great American Smokeout, " November 16, 1989; and "National Arts Week 189, " November 12-18, 1989. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agenda items. Mr. Johnnie Ware, 4355 Pine Street, addressed Council to request repeal of Ordinance 89-58 allowing a street user fee and requested monies already collected be refunded. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the minutes of the Regular City Council Sessions held October 31, 1989, and November 7, 1989; Resolution No. 89-240 authorizing payment to Centel Communications Systems in the amount of $12,786. 25 for emergency repairs to the Fire Department's telephone system; and Resolution No. 89-241 authorizing a $20, 000. 00 settlement of the lawsuit styled Enoch Charles v. City of Beaumont and Lionell Thomas releasing the City from any further liability. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- City Clerk Rosemarie Chiappetta presented notification to City Council that the petition circulated by Mr. Johnnie Ware requesting repeal of Ordinance No. 89-58, providing for a street user fee, has been found to contain over 3, 263 signatures of registered voters in the City of Beaumont and is declared sufficient. -000- -308- November 14, 1989 Resolution No. 89-242 acknowledging receipt from the City Clerk of the sufficiency of the petition circulated by Mr. Johnnie Ware to repeal Ordinance No. 89-58 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 89-82 abandoning Beech Avenue right-of-way west of 10th Street as requested by Guy Goodson, attorney representing B.M.O.R.J. Joint Venture, owner of the lots abutting on the right-of-way, was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 89-82 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE VACATING AND ABANDONING BEECH AVENUE STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. Ordinance No. 89-82 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Cokinos congratulated Mr. S. A. Webb, Public Utilities Director, Mr. Pierre Comeaux, and the crew responsible for repairing a ruptured water line so efficiently in the 2600 block of Long Street and publicly thanked Mr. Mike Halbooty for donating acreage in North Beaumont to construct a public park in honor of Tom C. Halbooty. Councilman Smith said she has received several calls from residents concerning a severe parking and safety problem on Concord Road when Larry's Antique Mall conducts a special sale three days of each month and asked Public Works Director Tom Warner to research the problem and look for solutions. Councilman Moore thanked the many volunteers (City Staff, Lamar students, and citizens) who turned out for the clean-up project sponsored by S.C.U.P. and N.C.U.P. , remarked there were over 5, 000 in attendance at a Karate competition this past weekend at the Civic Center, and expressed his delight in Beaumont as the selection site for the prison and congratulated Mayor Meyers, Judge LeBlanc, other officials, and citizens who went Austin to vie for selection of this facility. Mayor Meyers publicly acknowledged the outstanding efforts of Representative Mark Stiles in obtaining the selection for construction of the prison, Judge LeBlanc, Commissioner Ed Moore, County Engineer Robert Stroder, City Manager Ray Riley, and Water Utilities Director S. A. Webb for their assistance and expressed his pleasure for the -309- November 14, 1989 opportunity of playing a role in this unique experience and community victory. Mayor Meyers said that only two years ago the land chosen for the prison site was annexed by the City of Beaumont and turned out to be a perfect site for this venture. MAYOR MEYERS• . . .I 'm reminded that the fellow sitting in the back, next to S. A. Webb, this will be your last Council meeting, if I 'm correct. Is that right? John, in your humble way, get up on your feet! This John Gorman who has served our City, whatever comes above exemplary would be fitting for John Gorman! John is leaving us and going to California. It's an opportunity that John sees as one that can further his career, and it's something that in this business you know can happen, but regret it when people like John leave your city. John, there'll be lots of thank- you' s, but I 'm just going to, for now, say a tremendous thank-you for this City Council and the citizens of Beaumont for just everything you've done, and you've done it always pleasantly, efficiently, and I don't think anyone could ever ask more of anybody working for them in their city or in their business than you've given our city. I mean, it has just been an outstanding effort. I hate to see you go. I know it's something you've labored in making a decision, but I know that in going we wish you the very best of luck. And, this being your last Council meeting suffice now for remarks because I think there' ll be opportunity for everybody, but I just want to say that, and I 'd ask Council to add any individual comments while we have this opportunity together today. Mike, COUNCILMAN BRUMLEY: It's been a joy. I 've enjoyed it very much. MAYOR MEYERS• Bob, COUNCILMAN LEE: I probably have spent more with John than anybody on City staff. It's been not only a pleasure, but it's been very instructive. The gentleman has terrific management style. He has vision, creativity, initiative. The old saying about "nobody is indispensable, " it's going to be tough to fill that job. MAYOR MEYERS• He may test that? COUNCILMAN LEE: Yes, he may. Thank you very much. (comment directed to Mr. Gorman) -310- November 14, 1989 MAYOR MEYERS• Andrew, COUNCILMAN COKINOS: What I 've heard throughout the city about you, John, is that you did an excellent job at the Civic Center, and the word that comes out is that you are very accommodating. And, you certainly are going to be missed, I know, by this Council and the citizens of Beaumont. MAYOR MEYERS• Thank you, Andrew. David, COUNCILMAN MOORE• Normally when you get to this point, after four or five other people, there's nothing left to say, but I can honestly tell you, having had the pleasure of watching you work and watching you work some more, you've certainly stood strong in demonstrating the Citizen Friendly Policy. I think there are a few department heads around here who possibly understood the level of commitment that you had and of your people and the can-do-spirit. I 've never come to you with any request, and I 've never heard you say, "I don't think we can do it. " It's always "I think we can do it, we're going to try. " The only time I ever saw you doubtful was when I came to your assistance on the weather! I told you it was going to be okay! But, we wish you the absolute very best, and we always know the great employees we have will eventually have an opportunity to do something for other people, and it's been a pleasure having you here, and I hope whoever follows you will do just as a great a job as you did, John. Good luck to you. COUNCILMAN SMITH: John, we're to miss you very much. You've been a pleasure to work for, and I think the expression that might say what you are most is, "that nothing is impossible, the impossible just takes a little longer. " And, we're going to miss you very, very much. MAYOR MEYERS• John, are you speechless? MR. GORMAN• Yes, sir. MAYOR MEYERS• Well try to drag a few words out. . . -311- November 14, 1989 MR. GORMAN• Mayor, it's just been my pleasure really, to be associated with all of you. I 've been in City Government for twenty years, a little over twenty years, and worked with a number of elected officials and never have I worked with a group as committed and dedicated and active as this group. . . (remainder inaudible, Mr. Gorman not at a microphone) MAYOR MEYERS• John, every good wish to and your family. Ray, would you want to make a comment?. . . MR. RILEY: This has been a very unique situation for both of us. I was City Manager when we employed John back in 1982 . . .1 have always just thought the absolute best of John Gorman. He has probably, is the most creative and most imaginative person and has just done. . .a job without parallel with the City of Beaumont. We're really going to miss him. I hate to see him go, and I can say that the whole time that I 've know him he's only made one mistake and error in judgment. That's the one he just made in going to leave and go to California. He ask, "could he ever come back?" I said, "no, you can't, " and I 'm going to reverse that, John. I 'm going to say yes, you'll be welcome to come back, we're going to miss you and hope that you will have the opportunity to come back. MAYOR MEYERS• John, may I tell a story about you? I think it's appropriate to take a second since we've had a short agenda. When we were planning our first Economic Summit, I ' ll be the first to admit that it was getting a little scary. And so, recognizing, how many did we have on the day, it's two hundred and some odd, and I really had no idea how it was going to be done, but I knew that I had to find somebody else to worry with it because I didn't have any idea, and it was John who said, "I 'll draw out a plan and lay out a map. " When he came back with it, "I said John, how do you know about these things?" It was then I learned that John had worked in Kansas City, and that what we were doing here was nothing, because he had put together the Republican National Convention. From that moment on, I never questioned anything that John did. John, best of luck, and it's been a real treat working with you. Thank you very much for your service to the City. Thank you, John. The audience, Council, and City Staff present applauded Mr. Gorman for his service and tenure with the City of Beaumont. -000- -312- November 14, 1989 Mayor Meyers said that on November 28th a second meeting of Beaumont Business and Education Two Thousand will be conducted at the Julie Rogers Theater at 5: 15 p.m. and urged everybody to put that date on their calendar and invite friends to attend this meeting. This meeting will focus on education for our community. A committee has been formed to determine how the business community can best assist the school system. -000- Mayor Meyers announced that an Executive Session will be conducted pursuant to Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss pending or contemplated litigation immediately following the City Council Work Session. -000- Mrs. Delia Harrington, 815 Willow Street, addressed Council regarding her visit to Austin in support of Beaumont as the selection site for the prison, expressed her joy in Beaumont being selected and thanked the speakers who represented Beaumont so well. Mrs. Marie Hubbard thanked Council for the invitation to go to Austin in behalf of lobbying for the prison site and being allowed to be a part of history for Beaumont, thanked other individuals representing Beaumont and especially Mr. Pate for providing bus transportation. Mrs. Hubbard displayed the placard citizens took to Austin to solicit the site. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall, addressed Council to thank the Mayor, for his efforts in Austin, Mr. Pate for his participation in a parade, and congratulated Central High School and Mr. Shaw for being the number one football team in Beaumont. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before conducting the Workshop Session. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Session held November 14, 1989. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -313- November 14, 1989