Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 51-Cx32, Beaumont ordinance -relative to public service Oorporations. An ordinaAce -orbidding n increase in the rates to the public by_ a-,_p�, Iia service corporation enjo ing any franchise or public right or Driv-ilege within the city of Beaumont or en agea in the conduct of any public utility business therein, without the per- _. _mis.s.ion. of_th& !,Iayor and city.. -council of the city of .iseaumont,pro- viding for a hearing for the purpose of establishing — fa?r--rage; - denouncing a penalty, providing for certain forfeitures, etc. BE IFI OiDAI UEB BY 'TT-Dil CI`T'Y COU -'CII, UP THE OITY uP Section 1. it shall. hereafter be iunlawful for any person, firm, cor�o-ration or association, their - agents, servants, or employes engaged in the business of furnishing local telephone service to the jublic within the limits of the City of Beaumont, or for any person, firm, corporation or association, their agent,, servants, or employes exercising or enjoying any public franchise or privilege udder or in the city of i3eaumont, to charge or collect for the local service rendered by them to the pi—Colic in the City of .Ueaumont any higher rate titan the rates nor -r in existence and charged and collected at this time, without first filing an application for such increase and securing the a,,procal thereof by the i,iayor and City 010-?ncil of the City of }3eaumonl; aftei" aA open hearing, as here inafte-..pi ovicled. Section II. :in the event any such person, Limn, association or corpora�;ion mentioned in section I hereof shall desire to increase, ..= -the -chap=des -at.—this--t.-ime_e:1�is�:ing:- ro. s� c1�: ser_vice -le y shall prior^ to attempting such increase, file with -the. .. ayor of the city their application setting out in detail the rates by them 'proposed to be. charged and the reasons for such increase and request a hea-ring. Section III' Upon the fil'in� of such application, the iiayory and- city nd.city uouncll shall at the next succeeding regular meeting of the city Council set a date for such hearing. to begin, which date shall hot be later than ten days thereafter, and notice of said date shall be given to the etitioner. Upon such hearing, which shall be =. held by the i ayor M City council in open meeting, petitioner shall have the right and it shall be its duty to produce such documents, boo}:s, records, accounts and other evidence as may be necessary to enable the l,iayor and City uoiinci1 to pass intelligently and fairly upon the reasonableness of -the proposed rates, ancthe Layor and City Council shall the right and authority to call for or introduce any books, records, documents, accounts or other evidence w'aich might assist in arriving at the proper determination of the issues invol- ved. section !V. Said hearin • shall be expeditiously, conducted, and at -C' 'u minati,on thereof the City 00 _u shah., �,rzthln five clays --- -- thereafter, either gra-nt..or .refuse said increase, or partially grant - carne; -or -io*ger tiie-= existing raters-; as the --merits of -the, cash Tie r -re-- - quire; and it shall be unlai;rful for any ;such person,. firm, co - -oporation, or associationj,their agents, servants, or employes, to'charge or attempt to charge any rates for local service within the city of !�eau- mont higher than. that so fixed by the riayor and City Council; and any such increased rate so made without permission shall be void, and un- collectible; -and. no such person, firm, CorpL-on or association, their agents, servants or employes, shall discontinue or refuse to furnish service -to tb.e public because of the failure or . ref!Zsal of the -oublic to!_­p.aycar�higher rate than the one' so fixed by the I,Tayor and City Council. Section V. Any person, firm, corporc'_i'on or association, or any .-. 3rilar,t� '�+lJ JILLU' .Vi ill C agent, servant, or employe thereof, Who shall provisions of this ord._nance shall be -guilty moon conviction thereof shall be fined in any one {,; 1.00) dollar, nor more than tweftty-five and each separate charge or collection of any permission of the : ayor and Oity Council shale offense. violate any of the of a misdemeanor and sum not les than -(:_.,;25.00) dollars, incl easo,:.rJi thbut the constitute a separate Section vi. Any person, firm, association or corporation enjoying any ;public franchise within the limits of the city of-,eaumont or holding any public privilege or right to render public service for proi'it ,,llt[11 i1 the iity of Leaursont or rendering any public utility service within said city, shall violate the provisions of this ordin- ance, or ..rho shall increase the rates thar�'ed the public in violation hereof, shall subject itself to a forfeiture of such franchise rights, if any it may have, and the sane may be forfeited by the mayor and vity vouncil of the Oity of Deaumont, after .ten day's notice to the holder of such franchise rights; and any such person, firm, co_-Doration or association, •,.',I'ilo, lJith..o.t ,-ii.tho-at franchise shall in the city of .�3eatuilont fail or refuse to comply viith the- vrotrisions -of this ordinance steal= not be allowed or per;ilitted to continue the operation o -L the businesys in -?i2ich they are engaged tiritnin said city, and shall be, -moon order of the Oity Oomacil, by the rolice _uepa-rtment restrained - and prevented from so doing. Section Vii. should any jpart or portion of this ordi:Lla- ce for any reason be Tield invalid such holding shall in no trray of--Fect the r ia:I- E of said or o -finance, fr�ich shall, oil the contrary, retrain in full for ce and ef:ect. Section VII! . .i'his ordinance being of argent public importance by reason T 17,cts apparent upon the face hereof, and being necessary for the it_-:ledi ate preset-,vati on of the onblic cielfare and safety , shall be and become efle',tive from and iiL edla;ely after its--aassalge and api% oval.