CM 1982-12-14 Minutes of December 14, 1982
The City Council of the City of Coppell met in regular session at 8:30 p.m.
in the Coppell High School Administration Building on the 14th day of December,
1982.
The following members were present:
Andrew Brown, Jr., Mayor
Orville Mayo, Mayor Pro Tem
-- Walter Pettijohn, Counciman'
Bunny Thompson, Councilman
Dale Ware, Councilman
Glen White, Councilman
Also present were City Secretary Dorothy Timmons and City Attorney Larry
Jackson.
The meeting was called to order and everyone asked to stand while Councilman
White gave the invocation. Following the invocation, Councilman White moved
that the reading of the minutes be waived and approved as submitted; Mayor
Pro Tem Mayo seconded and motion carried 5-0.
0 ITEM 4A: Citizens Appearance by Mrs. John Hammar to discuss traffic on Bethel
School Rd.
Iml This item was tabled at this time.
ITEM 48: Citizens Appearance by Mr. Gerald Frenk to request a variance on lot
coverage at 333 Woodhurst Place.
Mr. Gerald Frenk made the presentation to the Council and stated that he wished
to install a carport to house his boat. It is his intention to put gravel under-
neath the carport. Building Inspector Troy Glidewell stated that the reason
for the variance is because the installation of the carport would exceed the
total lot coverage as allowed under City ordinances. Following discussion,
Mayor Pro Tem Mayo moved that this request be denied; Councilman Ware seconded
and motion carried 5-0.
ITEM 5: Consider rate increase request of Texas Waste Management
Mr. John Gustafson was present to discuss this item with the Council. This
item had been tabled from the previous Council meeting. Following discussion,
Counciman White moved that the 5.6% increase on residential rates and 10% on
Commercial rates be approved; Councilman Ware seconded and motion carried 5-0.
A mailing will be sent to all citizens during February requesting their input
on the use of disposable bags versus garbage cans as well as the input on
other utilities in the City.
ITEM 6: Consider rate increase of Lone Star Gas Company
Mr. Don Huff made the presentation to the Council. Following discussion, Council-
man Ware moved that Lone Star Gas Co. be approved a rate increase equal to
80% of the original request; Mayor Pro Tem Mayo seconded and motion carried
4-1 with Councilman Pettijohn voting against the motion. This ordinance number
will be #280.
ITEM 7: Consider approval of contract with Texas Appraisal
This contract will be reduced from the previous $525 to an amount of $300 per
month due to the fact that we have an in-house Tax Assessor at this time.
Councilman Ware ~aoved that this contract be approved; Councilman Pettijohn
seconded and motion carried 5-0.
ITEM 8: Consider funding for the 1983 budget year for the Regional TransportatiOn
Authority
The additional funding for the 1983 budget year is $635. Following discussion
on this item, Councilman White moved that it be tabled for further review;
Councilman Ware seconded and motion carried 5-0.
ITEM g: Presentation by the Water Department on replacing the 2" lines
in the City.
Water Superintendent Jack White and Assistant Superintendent Steve Goram made
the presentation to the Council. It is their feeling that this project could
be undertaken and completec~ in a 5 to 6 week period with work being performed
on Saturday and possibly Sundays. Following discussion, it was the consensus
of the Council that Alternate No. 2 be followed for the installation of the
pipe on Oak Grove Street.
ITEM lO: Joint work session with the Park Board
Mayor Andrew Brown, Jr. introduced Sue Norris who will preside as the secretary
to the Park Board. He stated that Mrs. Norris will be taking care of all
correspondence and written communications with the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and will be submitting requests to that Department for reimbursement
as needed. She will also work closely with the Park Board on the upcoming
projects and will have any information available that is needed. Following
the work session with tile Park Board, the Park Board adjourned for a separate
meeting to discuss further requirements on this project. Councilman White
left at this point in the meeting.
ITEM 11: Discussion concerning signalization at the railroad crossing on
Moore Road.
Following discussion on this item, it was the consensus of the Council that
the City Attorney write a letter to the Railroad Company requesting that this
intersection be placed on a master plan and get an estimate on what the funding
would be.
ITEM 12: Consider adjustment of taxes
Following discussion on this item, Councilman Ware moved that the taxes be
adjusted on one of the recently purchased lots at the First Security Bank
due to the fact that the statements went to the wrong address and were in the
wrong name. The taxes will be paid, however the penalty and interest amounts
would be dropped; Councilman Pettijohn seconded and motion carried 4-0.
ITEM 13: Consider accepting bids for the purchase of a fire pumper and a police
vehicle
Following discussion on this item, Councilman White moved that the Chrysler
vehicle in the Police Department and the American LaFrance pumper in the Fire
Department be approved for purchase; Councilman Thompson seconded and motion
carried 5-0.
ITEM 14: Consider request from Gateway Industrial Park to open-cut Cowboy
Drive for the installation of water lines.
Mr. Buddy Porsha was present to discuss this item with the Council. Following
discussion on this item, Mayor Pro Tem Mayo moved that this request to open-cut
Cowboy Drive be denied; Councilman Ware seconded and motion carried 4-0.
It was requested that the Railroad Company look at the feasibility of boring
the road, and if it cannot be done, to discuss with the contractor suggestions
for other alternatives to this installation.
ITEM 15: Presentation by Mr. Bill Thompson concerning proposed development
along Denton Tap Road.
Mr. Bill Thompson, representing both himself and Mr. Larry Martin.as Trustee,
discussed proposed developments along Denton Tap Road. There was no decision
to be made on this item.
ITEM 16: Consider approval of a zoning request of L & N Land Corp. for a
zoning change from "TH" Townhouse ReSidential to a "MF-2" Multi-Family Resi-
dential on the following described property:
Being a tract of land containing26.741 acres in the City of Coppell, Texas,
Abstract 1139, Tr. 2, and Abstract 1442, Tr. 1, Dallas County, Texas, which
said tract of land is located at the Southeast corner of Allen and Sandy Lake Rd.
Councilman Thompson moved that this item be tabled at the request of the
property owner who i.s not available for the meeting tonight and that it be
tabled until January 25, 1983; Mayor Pro Tem Mayo seconded and motion carried 4-0.
ITEM 17: Consider approval of ordinances adopting building and fire codes
for the City.
City Attorney Larry Jackson reviewed these ordinances with the Council for
their consideration. Following discussion, Councilman Ware moved that Ordinance
Number 275 - Uniform Building Code, 1982 edition, Ord. No. 276 - Uniform Electri-
cal Code, 1981 edition, Ord. 277 - Uniform Mechanical Code, 1982 edition, Ord.
No. 278 - Uniform Plumbing Code, 1982 edition and Ord. No. 279 - Fire Code of
the City be approved; Mayor Pro Tem Mayo seconded and motion carried 4-0.
ITEM 18: Consider approval of an ordinance prohibiting landfills within the
City limits
Following discussion on this item, Councilman Ware moved that this ordinance
No. 281 be approved; Mayor Pro Tem Mayo seconded and motion carried 4-0.
ITEM 19: Consider approval of the utilities in the Northport Development
located in the City of Grapevine.
Following discussion on this item, Mayor Pro Tem Mayo moved that.it be tabled
for further review; Councilman Ware seconded and motion carried 4-0.
ITEM 20: Mayor's Report
Mayor Brown stated that the diesel truck is in the process of being checked out
and a written estimate given on the repairs. Also, the International Truck
in the Water Dept. is being checked and an estimate made on those needed repafrs.
ITEM 21-A: Approval of Bills:
A. Hogan & Rasor, Inc. - Estimate No. 671 - Co~ordination and service of soils
& materials testing - Ground Storage Tank
Councilman Ware moved that this item be tabled; Councilman Thompson seconded
and motion carried 4-0.
Departmental Bills: Councilman Ware moved that the bills be approved for
-payment; Councilman Thompson seconded and motion carried 4-0.
The meeting was then closed for an Executive Session allowed under Article
6252-17, Section 2 (e), discussion with City Attorney and Article 6252-17,
Section 2 (g), discussion concerning personnel.
Following the Executive Session, the meeting was declared open to the public.
Councilman Ware moved that Jack Foley be hired as a patrolman in the Police
Department effective November 29, 1982 at a ~alary of $1,099 per month; Council-
man Thompson seconded and motion carried 4-0. Councilman Ware then moved that
Mark Leonard be hired as a dispatcher in the Police Dept. effective December
13, 1982 at a salary of $6.00 per hour; Councilman Thompson seconded and motion
carried 3-1 with Councilman Pettijohn voting against the motion. Councilman
Ware then moved that the resignation of Daniel Robertson effective November
30, 1982 (Patrolman), Marilyn Tippett, Dispatcher, effective December 15, 1982
be accepted; Councilman Thompson seconded and motion carried 3-0-1 with Council-
man Pettijohn abstaining from the vote. Councilman Ware then made the ~ollowing
statement and motion:
The City Council of the City of Coppell has confidence in the Police Chief
as department head of the Police Department. He has the authority and
responsibility for establishing guidelines and standards for the security of
our community and the management of the police department. His authority,
professionalism and administration have been challenged and is under scrutiny
by his subordinate personnel. To that end, his subordinates have publically
criticized him and other responsible authorities within the community. This
criticism has spread in the form of dissention and has created hardship and
conflict within the ranks of all City employees. The attitudes and performance
levels of these subordinates have been less than expected and have been
negative and disruptive to the community in general. In order to correct and
improve the confidence factor and performance level in the police department,
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it was necessary to place several officers on probation. This probationary
period has only served to fester and frustrate the problems within the
department. The conflict that the officers have with the City Council, the
Police Chief and other City departments serves to jeopardize the health,
safety and welfare of our con~nunity and has resulted in the City Council
losing confidence in officers Sergeant Bob Anderson, Patrolman Jerry Barker,
Patrolman Bob Howell, and Dispatcher Steve Matus and they are terminated
effective December 15, 1982; Councilman Thompson seconded and motion
carried 4-1 with Councilman Pettijohn voting against the motion and the'
Mayor showing his approval.
The meeting was then adjourned. ~
Andrew Brown, Jr., Mayor
ATTEST: ~
Dorothy Tlmmons, City Secretary