The Ely miner., 1942-01-08
To Continue Organization
Work at Adjourned Session
Monthly Budget, Study of
Labor Setup Asked by
Mayor Kapsch.

Ely'S new city council conducted its
initial meeting of the year Tuesday
night without incident, and adjourned
until tonight to continue organization
of the various departments. Only
handful of citizens was on hand as
compared with past years, probably
because of the 30-below weather.
All major department heads were
renamed, and minor positions viii be
filed tonight. Ninety-three applica-
tions were read for the latter division
of jobs.
In his opening remarks of the ses-
sion, Mayor John Kapsch asked that:
/. Expenditures be budgeted monthly
or on three-month basis.
2. The city government prepare to
meet any demands created by local de-
fense, and cooperate fully with the
civilian defense council He said i'm
provements may have to be limited to
maintenance because of this, and be-
cause of scarcity of materials.
8. The labor lists be thoroughly
studied and brought to a minimum,
and daily pay be raised from $3.50 to
SIS. Consideration should be given old
time city employees, he said, and the
six days per month allowed in 1941
increased if possible.
Trimming of the labor list appeared
to have support of members of the
council. Upon motion of Alderman
John N. Maxi, the pay hike was ap-
proved and Alderman Joseph Koschak
said all young men should be aided
and encouraged to seek defense in
dustry employment.
Koschak said he had it on good
authority than one man applying for
city work had turned down $780,
per-month defense job at Duluth for
part-time city employment.
'City work is a relief proposition"
Koschak said
Taking up the regular order of bus
mess, the council approved $2,50e
settlement for IL ex-servicemen, one
now dead, who brought suit against
the city. This amount includes all
costs and damages claimed from the
period June, 1910, when the suit was
started to Sept. l. 1941, when the men
were placed on a permanent basis.
This figure, representing a sizeable
reduction from the original claim of
$4,000, was arrived at during confer
ence between Judge Mark Nolan, who
heard the case, City Attorney Peter
Moscatelli, and attorneys for the vet
Grams.
The mayors appointment of Edward
E. Porthan as acting mayor was ap-
proved, making the 25-year-old alder
man probably the youngest to hold
the Office
Arthur A. zerahn, pharmaceutical
named city chemist, to take charge of
water and milk testing and meat in
spection, working on part-time basis.
He has had previous experience in this
type of work The post of city veter-
marian is abolished
The mayors appointments in the
police department were approved, as
follows: Douglas Nankervis, chief; Joe
Markovich, captain; E. A. LeBeau, SER
geant and Pete Kocevar, Jack Poshak
and John Anderson, patrolmen, all on
full time. Half time patrolmen are
Matt Herranen, Caesar Cadari, Matt
Levar. Anton Seme, Steve Moravitz,
| Henry Mattila, James Mccarthy, Christ
Saari, and Jacob Salo
The mayor said no special police
would be named following his policy of
last year, unless defense or civil strife
| required them.
Mayor Kapsch's appointment of
standing committees were approved as
| follows, the first-named being chair
| man:
| Accounts and finance--Maki, Toimi
Ahola, Gust r. Anderson. Parks,
grounds, buildings-Porthan, Rudolph
| Tisovich, Ahola. Fire, light, water
Ahola, Koschak, Maxi. Street, sewer,
sidewalk -Koschak, Maxi, Tisovich.
Sales. purchasing -Tisovich, Anderson,
Porthan. Sanitation, olice-Anderson,
Porthan, Koschak.
William Turja, Virginia, was again
hired to audit the city's books for a
fee of $700.
Department heads renamed include:
A. o. Knutson, clerk and city hall Gus
todian; Andrew Watilo, Jr., treasurer:
Peter MoScate1li, attorney; Waino
Somero, engineer; Paul Buccowich, Jr.,
superintendent of the water and light
department; Fred B. James, assessor
Anton Freshmen, street commissioner:
I. G. Cox fire chief; Ray Hoefier, man
ager Community Center; Frank Peshel
cemetery sexton; Mrs. Anton Moravitz
matron detention hospital.
There were two applications for
city health officer, one from DR.. H
N. Sutherland, acting health officer
and another from DR.. P. D. McCarty
DR.. Sutherland was named to the
position on a 81 vote, with Mayor
Kapsch voting for DR.. McCarty.
A communication was read wherein
the state fire marshal said he had
received complaints concerning a fire
hazard created by gasoline leaking
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