Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-02-29
PROPOSED CITY
MANAGER FAILS
TO ATTEND MEET
Was Unable to Be Present at
Special Session of City Com
mission Saturday
TAKE UP MANY MATTERS
Commission Has an Extremely
Busy Session

At a special session of the city
commission held at the city hall yes
terday afternoon it was decided TO
telegraph Ray Mackay of San Anto-
Mo 10 come 10 Brownsville at his
earliest convenience to confer with
the commission with reference TO the
position of city manager. Ii was the
original intention 10 have Mr.. Mackay
be present at this meeting, but it
could not be arranged.
The Mackay matter, together with
matters relative 10 the paving assess
ments, were discussed at an eXecu-
tive session Of the commission held
just before the open session was
called. The exact nature Of this dis
cussion could not be divulged.
A second appointmc, made for
the purpose of trimming the pay roll
was that Of Roy Weller. who was
naped head Of the fire department.
Weller has been employed as me-
chanic in charge Of the fire trucks AT
salarx of Sl00 a month Mr.. Coho-
lini recommended that this position
be consolidated with that Of chief and
he be paid $125 and authorized to
hire one additional fireman at sal
AIRY Of $50. This will save the city
$l25 a month. as they are now paying
salary Of $3.50 for fire chief.
Fire Commissioner b. l.. Kowalski
said that the city was short 500 feet
of fire hose to meet the insurance re-
quirements and that a failure to pur-
chase would cause AN increase in the
insurance rate. He was instructed
to purchase the hose.
A great deal of discussion on the
subjects of fuel oil and gravel was
INDUCED in by the commissioners. but
no actions were taken-none could
be- As to fuel oil, for instance. the
city is more than anxious TO enter
into a contract, but the oil companies
won't commit themselves. The best
contract the plant officials have been
able 10 secure to date was one from
the White company offering to fur
nish oil at ''curren. market prices"
The matter was held open pending
further negotiations.
As TO the gravel situation, Engi-
neer Spence said the gravel being
used on Fourteenth was not of as
good quality as he would like. but
that none better could be obtained
and that he would recommend that it
be employed. While stating that he
would not pronC/ice it good road
LKsfl fal
that if thestreet was given reasonable
care it would suffice. The subject of
gravel brought up discussion Of
other good street projects and Mayor
Cole said that he had Informed whole
sale dealers that if the property own
ers between Tenth and Levee streets
and the freight depot would bring up
their proportion the city was ready to
start building a concrete road. heavy
enough to withstand the traffic Of
commercial trucks. Mr.. Spencer esti-
mated that the city's portion Of the
construction will cost abb $4,000.
An application from the authorities
at Fort Brown for an extension Of
the government switch tracks along
Harrison street 10 connect with the
St Louis, Brownsville Il Mexico yards
was discussed and referred TO Acting
City Manager Louis Coholini and City
Attorney Del Perkins for investiga-
tion
Just before the commission con
vened the mayor and commissioners
were served with citations in the dam
age suit filed against the city by Flo
rencio SacnZ. who Il suing ia the dis
trict court for $4,000 damages. the
result Of a fire which destroyed q
residence property Of his in October.
The city attorney was instructed to
file an answer and was advised that
the matter of retaining private coun-
sci would be discussed with him later.