Council Proceedings

[OFFICIAL.] COTJNCIL CHAMBER, I ANN Arbor, Micli., April 15, 1895.1 Regular session. Called to order by President Hiscock. Roll called. Quorum present. The journal of the last regular session and the special session prior approved. COMMUNICATIONS. FROJI THE MAYOR. To the Honorable, the Cornmon Council of the City of Ann Arbor. Gentlemen: It is aduty, as well as i pleasure, incumbent upon me on entering upon thedutiesofmy office, to confer and advise with your honorable body, as to liow we can best proinote the welfare o! our city. I sincerèly believe that our nitv's interests are ürst in the liearts of everv niember of its council and such beiuV Ihe case it very essential that we Bhould act in harmony and assist each otlier inbeariiiiïthe Imrdeu of regponsibiüty attached to our several ofhces. As prosperity is the outgrowth of economy and as each and every member of this council is equally interested in the prosperity of our city, it is lioped and expected that the coinraon council ot the city of Ann Arbor will join hands with its mayor in an honest endeayor to manage the afifeirs of our city in tb e most economical ïpnnner possible, cou.iotont wit.li nroeress and ood öliïl Cil-1 u '"" X'""O ■■" " mAs the enforcment of the law and the preservation of good order is, by recent araendment of our charter, placed entii-ely in the hands of the mayor, I will advise nothing, but trustingto our police'and the support of all law abiding citizens. backed by your honorable body, await results to prove our ability to ïnaintain good government. I have bat a few suggestions to otter. I have but little advice to give. I rely largely upon your knowledge oE the needs and demanda of the city. I would advise the repairing and putting in good condition of our streets at as early date as possible, so tliat the public may have the use of them for as long a period as possible before the fall rains agajn put them in bad condition. Borne of our streets have been badly torn up in the construction of lateral sewers and will need prompt attention for when the frost is coming out of the gromid the dirt iu newly filled trenches will be apt to settle. The street railway company should be required to ñü and "keep well filled between and outside of the rails of their tracks, in such a marnier as to allow free travel of vehicles across them. State street should be re-opened direct to the Huron river bridge. Steps leading in that direction should, I think, be taken immediately, oa in puse of anv extensive repairs on, or obstruction to, the bridge over the Michigan Central railroad, communication with the fifth ward would be confined to bridge number twonearly amile below. Some steps should be taken before going to tlie expense of re-planking the bridge over the Michigan Central railroad, should it devolve, by order of the court, upon the city, to see it it cannot be lowered. It is flve or six feet too high and the bridge just north of it over the Huron river nearly as much too low and by lowering the first and raising the last named, what is now almost an impassible road for teams drawing heavy loads would thus becoine a useíul and accessible thoroughfare. The lichting of the city is becommg a serious matter and no time should be lost in doing something toward stopping the terrible flovv of money froni the city treasury, for this one purpose. Other cities owning their own lighting plant, 1 understiind, are furnislied liglit at onehalf the cost of light furnislied Ann Arbor. 1 hope your honorable body will take immediate steps to investígate this matter and should you find my inforination correct devise nieaiis to give to our city a lighting plant of its own. And should your investigation not quite justify the city's owning its own plant, then as the next best thing send a representative to Lansing to take from the hook and nut unon its passage the bill to allow the city to wake a flve years contract, which'wiÜ giye us a chance to get outside cempeötion and without a doubt, in my mind, greatly reduce the cost of ligliting. It would seem to me, judging trom the number of people who have been injured more or less, by fülling upon cement walks which are left witli a Bmootli and glassy surfiice, tliat sucli walUs should not be allowed to be finished in tliat manner, as they can as easily be flnished under a wood float and tluis do away with this huisapce. Tlierc is annther matter wliich I desire to bring to your attention, which to someof yon, who liave never been 80 unfortunate ;is to experience, may think a trivial matter. I reíer . to the 8moke Duisance. There cejtain Bections of our city wliicli after years of toil, honest iridustriotis pitizeiís. have suceeeded in establisliing pkasanl lioinps, only to huve thein rendered nearly untenable'because of the smoUe and soot froin the chimneys of the several industries which have, later, Bpriflig up in tlie neighborhood. It might be said that tbe individuáis suffering frotn tliis canse have their redress at la'w, hut while that may be true, the citizen wlio pays his taxes does so with the implied guarantee of protection and has a right to look to you, gentlemen, a?hom they have chosen to care for the ' nterest of all, to protect them in their ïomes and not to couipel tliein to go lown in their own uockets agaiu to protect their property, after they have aaid their taxes, which was for that ery pui pose. It is my opinión that ;here should be prepared an oidiuance jovering this matter. The investigation of the charges igainst oue of tlie members of the board of jublic works, now pending, should be handled with great care, with right and justice as the objective points. riie charges against the member are of x aerious nature and I hope it is to the ientleiinia's interest to have this investigation thorough. It is your duty, I :leem it on behalf of the gentleman accused, to leave no stone unturned to get at the bottotn facto in the case, so that in your findings, should he be innocent, you can fully vindícate him, md should the flndings be against him. then you would be better prepared to vindícate our city. Warren E. Walker. Aid. Prettyman moved that the message of the mayor be referred to a committee of three for división and reference. Adopted. Pres. Hiscock appointed the following as such committee : Aid. Prettyman, Ferguson, Brown. Pres. Hiscock addressed the council as follows : Gentlemen of the Couucil: In assuming the position of presiding officer of this body I commence my labors with some hesitation, but with an earnest desire to faithfully perform all all the duties relating thereto. It is my hope that we can work together for the advancement of the city's interests and maintain the reputation our city has of being one of the best governed of its dass in the state. Ann Arbor is enjoying a steady growth and our eö'orts shouldalways tend towards its continued advancen.ent and prosperity. In our labors this year I hope the members will bear in mind that all monies appropriated by our votes comes from the tax-payers, and in times like the present it is our duty to niake their burdens as light as possible ; no condition is more important to a city tban a low rate of taxation. I think his honor, the Mayor, will join me in the wish and assistin every way jiossible in making tbis a safe, economical and conservative administration. Asking your indulgence for a time until I become better acquainted with the rules governing this body, I desire to annouiice the following committees for the ensuing year : Finance - Brown, C;dy and Coon. Fire Department- Moore, Shadford and K'och. Ordinance - Prettyman, Buttertield and Alaynard. Water- Ferguson, Laubengayer and Butterfield. Sewers- Cady, Koch, Laubengayer, Brown, Taylo, Prettyman and Moore. Pólice- Maynard, Taylor and Ferguson. Lighting - Allmendinger, Ferguson and Cady. Streets- Taylor, Snyder, PrettymaB, Butterfield, Allrnendinger, Moore and Ferguson. Bonds- Butterfield, Prettyman and Taylor. Licenses- Snyder, Koch and Coon. Sidewalks- Coon, Laubengayer,Shadford, Brown, Koeh, Maynard and Cady. Parks- Bhadford, Moore and Allmendinger. Poor - Laubengayer, Suyder and Coon. Aid. Prettyman moved tliat the rules of the former council be adopted for this session and that a committee of three be appointed to formúlate the rules of the council. Pres. Hiscock appointed the following as committee on rules : Aid. Butterfield, Moore, Brown. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS. A petition signed by H. Reeve and five others, askiug for a sidewalk grade on Catherine, between 13th and Clark streets, was read and referred to Street Committee. A petition signed by H. 3. Brown and thirty-three others, asking for the completion of the sewer of the Detroit street district, was read and referred to the sewer committee. A petition signed by J. O. Knowlton and all other residents on the north side of Hill, between Forest and Washtenaw avenues, asking for a change in the location of the hydrant in front of A. H. Pattengill's property, was read and referred to the water committee. A petition signed by Matthew Lutz and nineteen others, asking for the location of a fire hydraut at the corner of West Liberty and Eighth St., was read and referred to the water committee. A petition signed by . W. F. Stiegelmaier and eleven others, asking for a location of a fire hydraut near the corner of Mary and .Benjamin streets, was read and referred to the water tee. A petition signed by Charles C. Church and fifteen otbers, asking for a location of au electric light at the corner oL West Jefferson and South Seventh -streeta, was read and referred to the lightiug committee. A petition signed by George Spathelf and ninety-six others, asking for the completiou of that portion of the main sewer located in the Fourth and Fifth wards, was read and referred to the sewer eounniittee. A petition signed by John V. Sheehan and thirty-one others, asking for the suspension of the building of the Huron Street sewer, was read and referred to the sewer committee. Aid. Maynard moved that. the petition of J. C. Knowltonand others be referred to the water committee witli power to act. Adopted as follows : Yeas- Aid. Moore, Maynard, All mendinger, Koch, Suyder, Laubengayer, Hn.wn, Ferguson, Taylor, Shadford, Prettyman, Coon, Butterfield, Cady, Pres. Hiscock. - 15. Nays- None. To the Cummoii Council; The Board of Public respectfullv represent tluu it is impracticable ïor want of cbeap suitable gravel to continue as heretofore to gravel aoruBnïilre streel of this City. also i bat it is ii.it ecomouidikto so do ' We tberefoie leeominend Unit measure should be taken to pave the business streets of the city. Vitrified bncks are being used to great advantage and tïatisfaction iti neighbormg citiesaud ns our Datura] foundation is BUch as to ailow the uscof bricks for uaving without tlie expen-e of erout foundation. We recomnieiiud that Main st. betweeu Washington and Liberty streeta, witli tlie iutersetion of these two st reets aud Ihe walk crossluga.be asan expermoDtal start paved this siiiou wlth yltrlned blocka such as the Board now have, and. whlch we iuvile the councils attention to. Wealsoask that the Board be allowed to purchase adir load of these blocks to be used to build stieet erosshigs witli instead of making the same of cuinem which has been fouud slipery for hoi Alao Mr. Arthur Brown bae tendered to the Board smimp oak plank to be sawed to such thickuess na the Board may direct; 16 it. til length for $18 per L o b. Aun Arbor. We recomniened the purohaseof at leastone car load (two can De used to aovantage) of such plank to be used lor crossiugs and for culvert aud bridge coveruips. Ulen V. Mills, Clerk. Received, and placed on file. To the Gommon Council : Gentlemen : I would respectfully cali your attention to that puit of the mata sewercomïnencing at the blind manhole In front of the Michigan Central passenger depot Ihence up the sewer to anout the N . V. end of the M. C. freight depot as lying off made in part and wlth a large pari of tlie tile broken. I deern it dangerous and unsage to turn aboutallthe seweiage of the city ltito this sewer in its present cóndilion, and I recommend to the Couneil that the sewer, at the pomt indicuted, be rebuilt on the present line. We had biels to do this work last (all for about $1,UOU, ihe city fnrnishing the tile, whicliinecity has on hand. I cali your attention to this matter asi w.ish to was.li my hand of reeponsiDility in this particular. Geo. W. Bullis. Referred to the sewer committee. To tlie Honorable tlio Mayor, tlie l'iesidenl and tli (Jornnion Countil oï 'the City oí Anm. Arboa-. TIk; undei"6ig'nel -vvould respectiully ïepresenv tJiat lie is president of tin; Baard oi Pablic Works, of said city. ïliat lie lias baein a niember oí súiU board Bince thO 15th day of Mayj J894. ïhat he has leaimed thi-ough the ni spapars Uiat cea-taiu charges have bf.fji made against Mm, in his oiöcial cupacity. ïhat he has had n ofïlci.ll notic ot any saich. proceedlngS'; That ihere, aow and ut all timest anl piacas üie most eannestly protesta that h is entirely innocent of any and. every charge made agalnst him and i ready ta,t all times to poroceed inl any way that the wisdom of the Comino CouncU Óf tlie city oí Ana Arbor inay öicvate to delend himself agaimst each ond e-Ovy oi said ohiiirge. Tliat, he liereby wa.lvs the notlce required ui such cases aan announces himg!ï ready at any Unie. wiien. hall piease tlie Cosmuio'n Couaicil to take up the coiasideratiom of said charges, and respectfuJly requeets thiat said Co-nimon Council Eiiall pnoceed with grea-test dispatoh oonsistent" -with justico to all, to tlie coiiisideration oi said charges, and that all peirsons who arO competent -witnesses and wliiO claim to kw any knowledge, en the subject oí eaid charges may bo summoned and 6ubpoenaed to apptar at the time and place fixedi by tlio Coimmon Council to givo thelp tstimony on the subject of said charges; and he hereby invites and demnnds tïie most thorough and caireful investigation poseible of each and every charge madö. All o-f which is respectfully gubmitmitted. Vnieú April 15th 1895. ALBERT M. CLARK, Pres. Board o-f Public Works Ann Arbor, Mioh. By Aid. Butterfield: WHBBEAScertain charges of mis-condnct in office have been made and flled against A Ibert M. Clark, President of the Board of Public Work which the Council deerns Itits dutv tólLXWat Wednesday the 8h day of May be the time flxed, and the Council Chamber of the City of Aun Arbor be Uie place flxed for the hearing of the same. And be it fürthRsolved, That the clerk be directed to cause to be servèd upoa salU Albert M. Clark on or before the L7tli day of April instant a certifled copy of said charges and of this resolution And be it further Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the President of the Council to formúlate an order of business and rules of proceedureforsaid investigalion and report the same, to this Council at Hs next regular meeting. Adopted. Pres. Hiscock appointed the committee on rules together with the City Attorney to act as a committee to formúlate an order of business and rules of procedure. By Aid. Butterfield : Resolved, That we respectfully request Albert M Clark to file with the clerk, on or before the next regular meeting, a writteu answertothe charges pending against hlm, and a statement in writing of hls defenw thereto and that the City Clerk cause a copy of thla reaolatloo-to be served upon saidAibert M. Clark together wilh ttie copy of saiu charges heretofore provided for. Adopted. By Aid. Prettyman : Resolved, That the Board of Public Works and Street Commissioners be inslructed to report a proper grade for Ueddes Avenue. Adopted. By Aid. Prettyman. Resolved, That the mayor be. and he is hereby author zed to offer a reward of ?10U.ooio aiiy person liirnishing evidence that snall lead 10 the arrest and convlellon of any om"uilty or wilfuliy and maliciously admlntstering polson to vny dog or of exposing any poisimous substance with inteut that the same thall be taken or swallowed by any dog. Alopted as followe : Yeas- Aid. Moore, Maynard, Alhncndinger, Koch, Snyder, Laubengayer, Brown, Taylor, Shadford, Prettymau, Óoon, Pres. Hieoöck.- 12. Nays- Aid. Ferguson, Butterfield, Cady.- 3. Aid; Butterfield moved that the President of the Couacil act as a rnember of the couamittee on rules. Adopted. Aid. Brown moved that the communicatiou from the Board of Public Works be referred to the street committee. Adopted Aid Prettyman moved that the Board be authorized to ask for bids for two car toada of swarop oak plank. Adopted as follows : Yeas - Aid. Moore, Maynard, Allruendineer, Koch, Snyder, Brown, Fergnson, Taylor, Shadford, Prettyman,Coon, Butterfield, Cady, Pres. Hiscock. - 14. Naya - Aid. Lanbengayer. Aid. Prettyman moved that the street committee be empowered to eecure tbe figure at wliieh a road roller and stone crusher can be secured. Adopted as follows : Yeaa - Aid. Moore, Maynard,.Koch, Snyder, Laubengayer, Brown, Ferguson, Taylor, Shadford, Prettyman, Coon, Cady.- 12. Naya - Aid. Allmendinger, Butterfield, Fres. Hiscock.- 3. On motion the Couucil adiourned. City Clerk.