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07-26-1939 Public Hearing MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC MEETING -July 26, 1939 The Miami Shores Village Council, subsequent to ten days notice, held ya. public meeting on July 26, 1939, at the Village Community House for the purpose of discussing the tentative budget for coming fiscal year, August 1, 1939 - July 31, 1940. There were 102 residents of the Village in attendance and Mayor Kitson discussed each item of the budget and asked for questions or objections to each item. There were no objections voiced f.to the tentative budget as submitted but the following suggestions and discussions were brought up by various residents: Mr. Kunkel, Mr. Aufford and Mr. Reynolds suggested that all Village insurance be written by some resident of the Village. Mrs. Hoffman was interested in knowing why one man received $20.00 a month more than the other men on the police force. It was explained to Mrs. Hoffman that this man had three years more of continious service than the others. Mr. King and Mr. Lalor were of the opinion that all the policemen should be paid $150.00 a a month and that another radio car be put in service for night duty. Mr. Kunkel suggested that another mill be added to the tax rate in order to take care of the additional expense that might be incurred in giving the Village added protection, by adding another man to the force to aid the marshal during the day. Mr. Elliott stated that there were quite a lot of broken sidewalks throughout the Village and wanted to know what provision was made to take care of these. It was explained that in the case of new construction the Builders posted Bond to cover this breakage but however, the Village Manager explained that there was about 500 ft. of broken sidewalk throughout the Vill- age and that they were considering some provision to take care of this. Mr. Oliver, Mrs. Batty and Mr. Elliott were interested in knowing what the 01000,00 for Shrubbery, Trees etc. would be spent for and what was done with last year's money in this account. The Village Manager explained that the parkway crew was starting on the south line of the Village and working north planting trees, shrubbery and beautifying the parkway in general. Mr. Stockdell stated that he was not satisfied with the parkway budget and that he wanted a better accounting of all the items in the Parkway Department. The amount of rent that we now have to pay for the shop and garage brought up the question as to the advisibility of buying or build- ing our own garage. Mr. Kitson informed the residents that several plans regarding this were under consideration. Several new residents of the Village were interested in knowing just what service the Recreational Department rendered the Village and were informed by the Village Manager that there were as many as 50 boys and girls every afternoon at the Community House to compete in the orgatized play groups formed by the director. Mrs. Sayre was of the opinion that all parkway salaries were too low. Mr. Ballinger was not in favor of estabishing the new office of Building Inspector but offered, rather,as a solution for this problem, that the Council employ another policeman for dyy time duty to assist the marshal and let the marshal supervise the police work and continue to act as building inspector. Mr. Kunkel, Mr. Becker, Mr. Young, Mr. Arnold and Mr. Megee were all in favor of Mr. Ballinger's suggestion. Mr. Stockdell stated that construction in Miami Shores Village was not good and that we needed an inspector experienced in theBuil,ding game to keep up with the building in the Village. Mr. Becker informed Mr. Stockdell that it would be impossible to get a man with the techinical learning necessary for this job at $150.00 a month. Mr. Morgan and Mr. Cooper stated that the Building in Miami Shores Village was the worst in the county and that the Village needed a full time building inspector to take care of the situation. Mr. Kitson informed the residents that all this had been taken into consideration and that a full time Building inspector could be employed at the will of the Council. Mr. Milledge stated that the $2000.00 for the Miami Airport had not appeared in the tentative budgets presented to the Council for discussion and wanted this item explained. Mr. Holt, Village Attorney, explained that in order for Miami to get W.P.A. aid in building the airport it was necessary to ask the aid of all the surround municipalities, and Miami Shores Village Resolution #227, dated 11-8-38, was adopted. Mr. Kitson explained that the Airport Committee had written the Village asking that our donation be placed in this year's budget. Mayor Kitson further explained that it was not necessary to donate the money but that we could donate the use of one of our trucks and get credit for the rental as our share of the donation. Mr. Anderson brought up the question that if we were not going to use the money why set it up in the Budget. Mr. Kitson explained that this was necessary to comply with Resolution #227. Mr. Ring, Village Auditor explained that if it was necessary to have it set up in the estimated expenditures, and we:,were going to donate the use of a Village truck instead of donating the $2000.00 in cash that this could be off set by placing $2000.00 for truck rental in the estimated revenues, raising the estimated revenue from $65,112.00 to 67, 112.00 and placing the ` additional $2000.00 in the contingent account raising it from $7085.58 to $9085.58 to bring the total estimated expenditures up to $67,112.00. Mr. Hewett brought up the question as to whether the people of the Village would be allowed to express their opinion, by popular vote, as to whether they were in favor of hiring an additional policeman or establishing the new office of Builing Inspector. The Mayor informed Mr. Hewett that if the Council thought it was necessary it would be done otherwise the decision rests with the Council. Mr. Milledge expressed the opinion that our police department expense was far in excess of what it should be and that we paid more for our police protection than any other place in Florida, our cost being practically $6.00 per capita, w hile the average was nearer $3.00 per capita throughout the state. Mrs. Ritter suggested that we lower our taxes and make special assessments for police and fire protection. The Mayor informed the residents that the final budget as f adopted by the Council would be on file in the Village office. The public meeting was then adjourned. The Council resolved itself into an , Equalization Board and adjourned to the Village Office to hear objections to the tentative tax roll. After sitting a reasonable length of time and no objections had been presented the equalization board adjourned until 7:30 P. I.I. July 27, 1939. After reconvening on July 27, 7:30 P.M. , the first business to come i before the Board was a motion made by Mr. Milledge that the Village Clerk as tax assessor re-examine the entire tax roll and place a valuation on all property 100% of the value thereof. This motion was seconded by . Mr. Stockdell. Mr. Milledge then amended the motion to include authority to the assessor to secure as much assistance as necessary to complete the roll up to the amount of $100.00. Mr. Lindsey then made a substitute motion that Mr. tlilledge and Mr. Stockdell be appointed as a Council Committee to act with the assessor in the reassessing, and to report back to the Council not later than noon Monday, July 31, 1939. This substitute motion was seconded by Mr. Pruitt and upon roll call was unanimously carried. There being no other business brought up for action the Board meeting was adjourned. A lla Manager an C er APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL: mayor f