= CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 471 471 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin will be held on the 21st day of July, 1959, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado, in Austin, Texas, at 2:30 P.M. for the purpose of hearing the Firemen on the proposals under consideration for meeting the new hours for the Fire Department as set out by recent legislation. (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk ATTEST: (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk CONSENT TO MEETING (Sgd) Tom Miller Mayor City of Austin, Texas We, the undersigned members of the City Council, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice, and consent and agree that said City Council shall meet at the time and place therein named, and for the purpose therein stated. (Sgd) Lester E. Pälmer (Sgd) Edgar H. Perry, III (Sgd) Hub Bechtol (Sgd) Ben White 472 472 - CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting July 21, 1959 2:30 Ρ.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall The meeting was called to order with Mayor Miller presiding. Roll call: Present: Councilmen Bechtol, Palmer, Perry, White, Mayor Miller Absent: None Present also: W. T. Williams, Jr., City Manager; Doren R. Eskew, City Attorney The Mayor announced that this was a meeting called for the purpose of hearing the Firemen on the proposals under consideration for meeting the new hours for the Fire Department as set out by recent legislation. MR. ROBERT SPEARS, President of the Austin Fire Fighters Association, introduced MR. TOM PINCKNEY, Chairman of the Hours Committee. MR. TOM PINCKNEY stated the firemen favored a 60-hour work week, and opposed to 10-14 hour and a 12-12 hour plan. The 10-14 hour plan had been in effect for a while 23 years ago in Austin and was not satisfactory. He said the 24 hour shift was more efficient, and a great majority of the men were for this shift, their first choice being 24 hours on and 24 off for three shifts and then 96 hours off. The other plan which is efficient and economical is the 24 hour on and 48 hour off schedule. He did not recommend doing away with the dormitory space in any event other than a straight 40 hour week, which schedule would take many more men to put into effect. MAYOR MILLER outlined the deplorable situation of the firemen and policemen in some large cities in 1933, and the enactment of laws by the Legislature to bring the emergency personnel out of this situation. He also listed the benefits which the city had put into effect--increased contribution to the pension fund (from 3 to 4%); addition of $60.00 per year clothing allowance; increased longevity payments from $2.00 to $3.00 per month; plus the pay increases. He asked if the group would consider the rolling back of the base pay, and get it worked out with the difference in time of three hours and the three hours be paid at time and a half, resulting in a substantial pay increase. Mr. Pinckney answered that he did not think that was the intent of the law, and that the firemen thought they were entitled to a pay increase regardless of the hours. The Mayor listed the approximate amounts that would be paid the firemen and policemen under this proposition. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 473 473 MRS. JOYCE BRYANT, President of the Ladies' Auxiliary, stated the Auxiliary was behind the men for what they were requesting, and that the wives and families were against the 12-hour shift. MR. STEEN SMITH requested the Council not to consider anything but a 24-hour shift, as did MR. CECIL PERKINS. The Mayor asked again if the firemen wanted to consider the proposal he had suggested. A number indicated they would. It was suggested that they give their answer a week from this coming Thursday (July 30th). There being no further business, the Council adjourned at 5:00 P.M., subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED Jom Milla. Mayor