361 Called Meeting of City Council November 17, 1877 Council called to order at 8.10 P.M. Mayor DeGress in the chair Roll called and the following Members answered Aldermen Miller, Millett, Marley, Nolle, Platt Sheehan and Strong Absent Aldermen Crow, Crocker and Mortz [illegible] present On Motion of Alderman Millett the City Attorney was excused from attendance on the Meeting for the Evening Alderman Crocker and Mortz came in and answered The Journal of last Meeting was read and approved His honor the Mayor submitted the following report Mayors Office Austin Tex Nov 17 1877 To the Honorable Board of Aldermen Austin Texas Gentlemen We are about entering upon a new administrative of the City's affairs. The public expects us to either reduce our taxation our bonded indebtedness, let our action be directed to this purpose, we can accomplish this if we work in harmony and with an eye single to Austins prosperity Let us forget the asperities engendered during the last election and work hand in hand for the good of the City I have no policy of my own to advance regarding our finances, but believe with the assistance of the Finance Committee and the Co-operation of the Council we can improve our financial condition and appreciate the value of the City's paper The Contracts between the City of Austin and John & Elliott for printing, Drs Johns for furnishing Medicines and John Douden for lighting our Oil Lamps have expired I would therefore recommend that the Mayor be authorized to advertise for bids, and that and that the Mayor and the respective Committees meet at the time set forth in the advertisement for bids and award the --- Page break --- 362 the Contracts I desire to call your attention to the necessity of codifying our city Ordinances. a large number of them have been repealed and others conflict with the Charter. I therefore recommend that One or more Attorneys be employed to codify the Ordinances of the City Very Respectfully Jno De Geu Mayor On Motion of Alderman Miller the report of the Mayor was received and referred to the appropriate Committee On Motion of Alderman Nalle the Mayor was Authorized to advertise for proposals for the supplies as set forth in the report of the Mayor and that the Contracts for furnishing the same continue until the new Contracts are awarded The Mayor states that it was necessary for the accommodation of the Members of the Council that sufficient furniture be purchased for their accommodation Alderman Nalle moved that the City Marshal be directed to purchase to purchase Ten (10) Chairs and Ten (10) Desks for the use and benefit of the City Council Carried Alderman Platts moved to reconsider the vote for the purchase of Desks and chairs for Council Chamber The Yeas and Nays ordered and the motion to reconsider lost by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Crocker, Miller, Markly and Platts Nays Aldermen Millett, Moetz, Nalle, Shehan and Strong The Bonds of J.H. Howard as City Treasurer and True Sterzing as City Officer and Collector was presented received and ordered approved The Chairman of the Fire Committee (b.f. Millett) Presented an ordinance to amend Article No 4 4 9 of the Ordinances of the City of Austin The Ordinance was read and passed to second reading Alderman Markly moved to suspend the rules and put the Ordinance on its second reading The Yeas and Nays ordered and the motion to suspend the rules lost by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Millett, Markly, Moetz, Nalle Platt and Strong --- Page break --- Nays Crocker Miller and Sherlaw The Mayor Nominated D.B. Withers as City Clerk and asked his Confirmation Aldermen Millett and Platt were appointed as tellers Alderman Platt moved to postpone action on the nomination ... Lost.... The vote on the Confirmation of the nomination for City Clerk was taken by ballot. the tellers after receiving and counting the votes announce the following result. For Confirmation Three (3) against Confirmation Six (6). The council refused to confirm the nomination By Alderman Hall. Whereas there is great damage being done to the property of Citizens in that part of the City lying south of the Central Railroad and East of East Avenue. by the drainage of water that flows from the south side of Robinsons hill through the Culverts of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. Therefore be it Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin. That the Mayor is hereby instructed to open correspondence with the proper Officers of said Company and request that they open the drainage down by their road bed along Pine Street on the North side of said road to Waller Creek. or in such other way as may be desired. most practicable to prevent the further damage to said property. And that he cause the City Attorney to examine and decide what legal rights the City may have if any. against said Company in case they refuse to comply with the request made by this resolution and report results to this board at its next meeting On Motion of Alderman Miller the resolution was adopted By Alderman Markley. Resolved That a Special Committee of three be Appointed Consisting of Alderman Brown Crocker and Miller with power to Employ a competent Accountant to assist in Examining the Books Vouchers Etc of the Office and report to this Council at their earliest Convenience Alderman Moved that the resolution be Odofsted The Mayor approved the resolution and informed Council that they could not employ an accountant until --- Page break --- 364 Seeking an appropriation by ordinance By Alderman Crooker Be it Resolved that his Honor the Mayor be requested to notify the City Railroad Company that the must remove the abandoned track in front of the Residences of Drs Hooten, McGowen and Gobin and fill up the hole left by the removal of their Turne Table and otherwise leave the Street in as good condition as when they Commenced laying their track On Motion of Alderman Nalle the resolution was adopted On Motion of Alderman Nalle the Mayor was added to the Committee to consider the propriety of favoring matters to this city from the various cities as per commumunication from Board of Trade On Motion of Alderman Millett the City Marshal was directed to see the the Sprinkling carts Sprinkle the Streets in a proper manner On Motion of Alderman Miller the City Attmy was instructed to give the City Council his opinion on the legality of the Ordinance for impounding Stock Alderman Nalle moved that the City Engineer be requested to read and explain the Contract for guttering East Pecan Street. The City Engineer came within the bar of Council and read the Contract together with the specifications for doing said work Alderman Millett moved that a Committee of two be appointed to examine the work of guttering East Pecan Street, said Committee to act in connection with the Street Committee Alderman Millett withdrew his Motion Alderman Miller moved that a special Committee of of five including the Street Committee be appointed to examine the work now being done on East Pecan Street and ascertain if the work is being done in compliance with the Contract Alderman Nalle moved to amend by giving the Committee power to make such changes in the work as they deem proper with the consent of the Contractor and report to the City Council their action Alderman Millett offered the following substitute that a Committee of five be appointed --- Page break --- 365 to examine the work on East Pecan Street and make such changes in the work as will be to the best interest of the city. Substitute lost Alderman Miller accepted the amendment of Alderman Halle. On Motion of Alderman Markley the resolution as amended was adopted On motion the Council adjourned John F. Herlock City Clerk Called Meeting of City Council November 22d 1874 Council called to order at 4.45 P.M. Mayor De Gress in the Chair Roll called and the following Members answered. Aldermen Brow. Brooker. Miller Mellette Markley. Meatz. Hall. Platt Sheehan and Strong Absent. Stone Quorum present The Journal of last Meeting was read and approved The City Attorney submitted the following report Austin Texas Nov 19th 1874 To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen At the last meeting of your honorable body my attention was called to the ordinances and amendments thereto existing - relating to the running at large in the City limits of horned cattle and other animals enumerated and set out in said ordinances. Under the general powers conferred on the Mayor and Council Sec 11 the authority in the Charter is plainly given. The only question