Council Raises Salaries Of Firemen And The Police

COUNCIL RAISES SALARIES OF FIREMEN AND THE POLICE

They Also Recommend the Various Charter Amendments

They Let Paving Contracts for Liberty St. and Fourth Ave., Make Appropriations and Let Oil Tanks Stay

Monday night's meeting will go down into history as the salary-raislng council. And yet if any one individual is picked out hardly anyone will say that his salary is raised too much, but in the aggregate the amount looks large. Tabulated, it is as follows annually:

Past Future Increase

Mayor and Aldermen $1 $1,600 $1,599

Assessor ... 1,000 1,500 5 0

Firemen ... 6,312 7574.40 1,262.40

Police ... 3,300 3,879.96 579.96

Janitor ... 208 249.60 41.60

Total ... 10,821 14,803.96 3,982.96

The salary raising did not commence until long after the usual hour for adjournment had arrived, for probably at no council meeting since Ann Arbor first became a city has a greater mass of business come before a single council meeting.

Lennane Bros. were given the contract for paving Liberty street and also S. Fourth avenue. Their figures for Liberty street were $24,820.50 and for Fourth avenue $6,528.48.

Including the paring, last nights council meeting appropriated at least $36,400.

The meeting opened with the mayor's veto of the Glen avenue storm sewer, because the appropriations had not been made. No attempt was made to pass the matter over the veto.

At the request of the cemetery board Louis C. Steinke was appointed police officer at Forest Hill cemetery without pay from the city.

MANY PETITIONS.

A request for a grade on Hickory street by the University which wants to make improvements at the hospital, was referred to the city engineer.

The board of education petitioned for a sanitary sewer for the Philip Bach school, while L. D. Carr wanted 14-foot lawn extensions on Church street, Oakland avenue and Arch street.

Property owners on the east side of Gott street petitioned for a storm sewer.

A petition was presented for a sanitary sewer from Allen's creek to Sixth street, and also a petition from a part of the signers asking that their names be taken on.

Fourteenth street residents wanted a pond caused by filling the street drained.

Phillip street residents wanted a sidewalk.

The teamsters wanted their pay every Saturday night.

An electric light on the corner of Volland and Fourteenth streets was asked for.

Dr Hall presented a petition to change the alleys between Lincoln and Baldwin avenues. This was granted.

Neighbors asked that the nuisance of rubbish from the Homeopathic hospital operating room being dumped on the hospital property be abated.

PAVING CONTRACTS LET.

The Liberty street paving bids figured up as follows:

Lennane Brothers ... $24,820 50

Schneider ... 25,127 50

Kneal ... 25,462 50

Clancy ... 25,781 00

The contract was awarded to Lennane Bros. by a vote of 9 to 6, the noes being Ald. Schlenker, Kearns, Miller, Johnson, Schumacher and Bangs.

Ald. Johnson said it took ten votes to let a contract.

Ald. Kearns: "I appeal from the decision of the chair."

There was considerable discussion of the number of votes required, but the appeal was not put.

The bid of Lennane Bros. was $2.19 1/2 for the asphalt block, an increase of 3 1/2 cents over what they charged on State street, for Medina stone 75 cents, an increase of 5 cents, for Berea cub 46 cents, the same as last year, for headers 47 cents, an increase of 7 cents, for excavation per cubic yard 40 cents, an increase of 20 cents.

Ald. Johnson said in considering Mr. Lennane's bid the kind of work the city is getting ought to be considered. Mr. Kneal's pavement on Huron street looks well in comparison with State street. Any man who looks over State street knows that it is a bad job of paving.

Ald. Hutzel said there are bad spots on State street. After any little rain there are mudholes that will splash a buggy all up. He hardly saw now Mr. Lennane made a difference of 100 per cent on excavating on what he did a year ago.

Engineer Groves stated that Mr. Lennane had told him that he would have men here within a week to put State street In shape. The city had held back $1,500 of Lennane's money.

Ald. Kearns moved to lay the matter on the table, but the chair decided that Ald. Douglas had the floor.

Ald. Douglas asked the city attorney if the council would have to accept the lowest bidder. The city attorney said it would if he could give bonds, if it accepted any of the bids.

Ald. Douglas introduced a resolution giving the paving contract to Lennane Bros.

Ald. Hutzel said that this pavement is an injustice to the city as a whole. This city is paying entirely too much for paving. Saginaw block is sold for $13.75. There is a great difference between this and $70 for asphalt block.

Ald. Coon said there was no question but that the people of Liberty Street knew what they wanted.

The resolution then passed, 9 to 6.

The bids on paving Fourth avenue from Liberty street to Huron street were as follows:

Lennane Bros. ... $6,528 48

Kneal ... 6,688 12

Schneider ... 6,721 36

Clancy ... 6,757 80

Ald. Hutzel offered the resolution awarding the paving to Lennane Bros. and Ald. Kearns said he would not vote for it because the block in front of the court house was not included. The motion carried 11 years, 4 nays, the nays being Ald. Schlenker, Kearns, Johnson and Bangs.

ESTIMATES ON SEWERS.

The city engineer estimated that the proposed sanitary sewer on W. Jefferson and S. First streets would cost $1,264.20, of which $55.80 belonged to the city to pay. He also estimated that the grading of Church street and the taking care of the storm water from Israel avenue would cost $2,080. This was laid on the table till the budget was made up.

He estimated that the storm sewer from Allen's creek to the intersection of E. University avenue and Packard street would cost $11,822.

It was moved to lay this matter on the table. Ald. Fischer wanted the matter referred to the sewer committee. This matter has got to be attended to and we are in as good condition now as we will be two years from now.

Ald. Coon agreed that this matter would have to be attended to sooner or later.

Ald. Schlenker said the mayor has shown us the small amount of money we have to spend.

The motion to lay on the table carried 9 to 6.

FIXING THE BOOKS.

Ald. Douglas made some important recommendations from the finance committee, which were adopted. Several new funds were created, viz., park fund, sidewalk fund and street lighting fund. The street fund was sub-divided into five divisions, (a) cleaning streets, (b) cleaning pavements, (c) repairing streets, (d) new pavements, (e) special appropriations. The sidewalk fund was sub-divided into three divisions, (a) building walks (b) grading and (c) repairing. The board of public works were requested to send to the finance committee time-sheets or pay-rolls for them to audit and the treasurer was requested to be in his office from 3 to 6 on the Tuesday after council meting to pay these accounts as audited either a blanket warrant to be drawn on the treasurer for the whole pay roll or seperate warrants.

WEEKLY PAY ROLL.

After this was passed the council took up the petition for weekly pay of laborers. Ald. Hutzel and Johnson argued for time checks. Ald. Schumacher said that all city attorneys had told them right along that no bills could be paid unless ordered by the council. Ald. Kearns suggested that the council meet every Monday night to audit laborers bills. Ald. Johnson and Douglas gave notice of proper amedments to the rules to allow this to be done.

NEW ORDNANCE.

The sidewalk ordinance was amended so as to include in the cement walk district the south side of Hill street between Packard and Sybil.

DEAN & CO.'S OIL TANKS.

The ordinance committee and city attorney reported on the petition for the removal of Dean & Co.'s oil tanks that

1 Under the charter the council may locate oil tanks and warehouses.

2 That Dean & Co.'s tanks were erected by permission of the council and cannot be removed except by being declared a nuisance in a court of chancery.

3 They found the warehouse in good order.

4 Since the burning of the barn the fire danger had greatly lessoned.

5 The insurance companies did not deem the risk extra hazardous.

6 The warehouses compared favorably with buildings used for such purposes elsewhere. 

7 The oil tanks were exposed and unsightly and the committee would recommend that Dean & Co. be required to wall in the tanks and cover the same with a steel roof.

Ald. Coon moved the adoption of the report.

Ald. Douglas said covering the tanks only added to the danger. It simply confined escaping gas from the gasoline and hence Increased the danger of explosion. The walls were a good thing but the top ought to be open to the air.

Ald. Schumacher. Why don't the committee follow the orders of this council? We instructed you to draft an ordlnance. Why are you not brave enough to do as you are told? You are building a fool's monument

Ald. Fischer explained that they acted under city attorney's advise.

Ald. Hutzel understood the committee was to investigate. Personally he knew that this had always been a nuisance, but if we can't go into court and prove it we can't remove it. The roof was to be properly ventilated.

Ald. Schumacher. It was prophesied by Mr. Dean that Liberty Street would be ruined if a livery stable was allowed there that Packard Street would be ruined by street cars. He got out injunctions and litigated it. Mr. Dean would not tolerate these tanks in his block for one minute. None of these who signed his petition would tolerate it in their blocks.

The report was adopted 12 yeas to 3 nays. Ald. Schumacher, Kearns and President Walz voting no.

Later on in the evening Ald. Hutzel moved to reconsider. The report he said might not be so strong as to make Dean & Co.'s rights perpetual.

City Attorney Kearney said if the thing was a nuisance it could be abated at any time by the courts. The report was reconsidered but was again readopted by 11 yeas to 4 nays, Ald. Hutzel joining in the nays.

CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

A number of amendments to the charter were approved by the council. They provided for

1 A police commission with entire charge of the police to consist of 3 members, one to go out each year.

2 That the mayor, president of the council and aldermen should have a salary of $100 each per year.

3 That the city assessor's salary should not exceed $1500 a year.

4 That no saloons should be permitted east of Division and Detroit streets and south of Fuller street.

5 That paving petitions should be signed by the owners of a majority of foot frontage instead of a majority of the owners.

6 That claims for damages must be filed with the council within 30 days instead of six months after the accident occurs.

The amendments were lengthy ones made so by the number of sections that had to be amended to establish a police commission.

Ald. Coon said he was unable offhand to comprehend all the amendments and wanted further consideration of them put off.

Ald. Douglas thought the amendments should be printed and looked over before being finally adopted.

City Attorney Kearney explained that the legislature was about to adjourn.

Ald. Hutzel wanted any provision dividing the city as to saloons made definite so that succeeding councils could not drive men out of long established business.

Ald. Coon thought due consideration could not be given the matter. Amending a charter was ticklish business.

Aid. Johnson said that if the council's action about Dr. Rose's saloon did not stick, it would if this amendment was passed.

Ald. Kearns said he would not vote to give a council power to say that there should be no saloons in Main street.

City Attorney Kearney said if his contentions were right the council had that power now.

Ald. Kearns: "What's the use of amending the charter then?"

Ald. Fischer made an appeal for the passage of the charter amendments. If the council did not want all these amendments, let them pick out what they did want.

The police commisison passed, 12 yeas, 3 nays, the nays being Schlenker, Hutzel and Coon.

The salaries amendment passed 12 to 3, the nays being Douglas, Hutzel and Coon.

The assessors' salary, the paving amendment and the damage claim amendment passed by 15 yeas each.

The saloon amendment, after it was fixed up naming the district, passed by 13 yeas, 2 nays, Schlenker and Bangs.

WIDENING SEVENTH STREET.

On motion of Ald. Hutzel it was decided to pay $100 each to G. Frank Allmendinger and John Kajuska for land to widen Seventh street from Madison to West street. Ald. Coon did not think the city ought to pay for land to widen streets, as it should be donated or paid by property benefited.

MANY WALKS ORDERED.

One of the largest consignments of cement and tar sidewalks ever ordered at one time were unanimously voted by the council.

On motion of Ald. Schlenker the street commissioner was ordered to tear up dangerous sidewalks after 48 hours' notice.

RAISING FIREMEN'S PAY.

Ald. Kearns presented a resolution to raise the firemen's pay 20 per cent.

Ald. Douglas: "Has that been before the board of fire commissioners?"

Ald. Johnson: "I've talked with one of them and he is heartily in favor of it. These men are working for $50 a month. 24 hours a day for 12 months in a year."

Ald. Coon wanted to hear from the board of fire commissioners and moved that this matter be put over to the next regular meeting.

Ald. Kearns: "If you want to kill this, why not do it tonight?"

Ald. Hutzel was personally in favor of raising the firemen's pay, but he wanted to put the tire commission on record.

Ald. Grose said that no class of men deserved more pay than the fire department, but he wanted the matter to come up in the proper order, recommended by the fire commissioners, and moved that the resolution be referred to the fire commissioners.

Ald. Schlenker thought that ten per cent was large enough raise at this time.

Ald. Kearns said twenty per cent was little enough.

Ald. Coon said that in years past, the council had attempted to help the fire department and had taken some action, but the fire commissioners thought the council had gone too fast without consulting them.

Ald. Johnson wanted to go on record to give these fellows more money, whether the fire commissioners wanted to give it to them or not. They had been at the fire commissioners ever since last summer and hadn't got anything yet. Now they had gone to the chairman of the fire committee, who had introduced this resolution.

President Walz said it would be no more than right to refer the matter to the fire commissioners for recommendation.

The motion to refer was lost by 7 yeas, 8 nays. The yeas were Ald. Douglas, Gill, Hutzel, Coon, Goodyear, Robinson and Walz.

Ald. Coon wanted to increase the janitor's salary.

Ald. Douglas: "If you keep on like this the city will not have any money to make any improvements and unless the head of the department recommends the increase, I cannot vote for it."

Ald. Schlenker wished to amend by including the police in the resolution and making the raise 10 per cent. Ald. Coon seconded this, but afterwards withdrew his second.

Ald. Grose did not think the police department ought to be included. He did not think any class of people took as great risks as the firemen. The policemen can go to shows and operas, the firemen cannot.

The 20 per cent raise for the firemen was voted by 9 yeas to 6 nays. The nays were Douglas, Gill, Schlenker, Coon, Goodyear, Robinson.

POLICE WERE RAISED.

Tho policemen's salaries were immedlately raised 20 per cent by a vote of 9 yeas to 6 nays, the nays this time being Ald. Douglas. Gill, Grose, Coon, Goodyear and Robinson.

NEW LIGHTS ORDERED.

Two new lights were ordered on motion of Ald. Schumacher, on the corner of Monroe and State and the corner of Fifth and Huron.

Ald. Grose presented a long report on garbage and said the Rendering Works had a capacity to dispose of the garbage and would discuss the matter with the council. He referred the whole matter to the council.

The committee on Fairview cemetery reported in favor of painting the fence, re-platting part of the cemetery, filling in and sodding many of the walks.

OTHER APPROPRIATONS.

Ald. Schumacher moved that the city attorney name three aldermen to go with him to Lansing to get the charter amendments through, at the expense of the city.

The city attorney said some one should be appointed who could go. He was unable to go this week. Ald. Schumacher changed his resolution to have the mayor go and name the three aldermen.

Ald. Schlenker's motion to appropriate $250 for taking up the cobble stone gutters on Liberty street between Ashley and First was passed, the surface water on Ashley street to be connected with the storm sewers and proper curbing provided for to enable the property owners to have the usual lawn extensions.

Ald. Schlenker's motion was also passed to appropriate $150 for the grading of a sidewalk.

After two or three other small resolutions the council adjourned.