Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, June 1, 1961, page 1 (of 20)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
THE Coral Gables TIMES
THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 36, No. 16 20 Pages Thursday, June 1, 1961 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c
Salary Increases Suggested in City
By MAURICE LABELLE Times Staffer The pay of some Coral Gables employees will be boosted as much as 11.1 per cent if the proposed pay plan is incorporated in the 1961-62 budget. This would mean a boost equivalent to approximately $35 a month for beginning firemen and police and would bring them approximately in line with their counterparts elsewhere. The plan would cost the taxpayers more than $161,000. NO TAX INCREASE No tax increase is contemplated as a result of the increases, however. A public hearing on the budget has been scheduled for June 27 before the City Commission. Information on the budget will be available next week. "All we've tried to do this year," said Robert Harrison, personnel director and principal author of the plan, "is to bring the pay system in line with surrounding territory." Under the new plan, the five per cent "cost of living" increase granted to most employees last year becomes a permanent part of the pay system. This increase is equivalent to approximately $137,000. Also scheduled to benefit are employees of the Public Service Department whose hours will be reduced from 48 to 421⁄2 hours without reduction in pay. EFFECTIVE DATE The increases, if granted, will become effective June 28 for bi-weekly paid employes and June 29, for weekly paid employes. Top executives will not get increases, Harrison said, unless the pay of subordinates caught up. The City Commission is also considering changes in the pay of the city manager, city clerk, city attorney, assistant city attorney, municipal judge, greenskeeper, and publicity director, none of whom are included in this plan. Under the proposed pay scale, a beginning fireman or policeman will jump from $327 to $362 per month, including the five per cent granted last (See Raises, page 2)
Friend or Foe? Lost, Scared 'Coon Bites Officer Bell
A friendly little old pet raccoon put the bite on Coral Gables Officer Gene Bell recently when he attempted to pick it up. Bell, who still has the 'coon, had to go to Doctors' Hospital for a tetanus shot after being treated by Gables firemen. The policeman said he went to 1340 Sopera Ave. to pick up the lost raccoon and was scratched and bitten twice by the pet when it became frightened as he picked it up. No one has claimed the pet raccoon yet, Bell said. Meanwhile, he's hanging on to it until he finds out whether or not it is rabid.
Hearing Set July 25 On Training Firemen
July 25 has been set by the Metro Commission for the next public hearing on a proposed ordinance requiring municipal police and firemen to take a 12-week training course. Coral Gables has gone on record as basically in agreement on the police training provisions, but opposed to the same requirements for firemen. The city has its own continuing training program for firemen but no formal program for police officers. Gables police are already taking the Metro courses. But Chief William Kimbrough has sought a waiver on some of the requirements to allow him to use rookie policemen until a new class at the Metro school opens up. The present Metro ordinance would prevent the city from putting rookie police on the streets until they have satisfactorily completed the 12-week course. Fire Chief Paul Matheson said that his training program would have to continue because Metro uses different equipment.
Cunningham Leaving For Post in NY
An active cog in the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce leave the Gables next week for a top job in New York City. He is Ivan Cunningham, Chamber director, chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, and sparkplug behind the Action Practical Politics Course. Cunningham has resigned as vice president and director of International Petroleum Co. Ltd., following his appointment as coordinator, Latin America, for Standard Oil of New Jersey, the parent firm. The 36-year veteran of the petroleum field has lived in Coral Gables at 7741 Ponce de Leon Blvd. since 1955.
He's No Card
One person did his Christmas card shopping early though he lacked the Christian spirit. Mrs. Alice N. Vanderbilt of 1519 Dorado Ave. told Coral Gables police Friday that someone stole a sample case with approximately $200 worth of Christmas cards from the back of her car.
Pool owners hdqtrs Chemicals.
10 items. Sun n' Fun Pool n' Patio. CE 5-7333. —Adv.
Goodbye, Miss Bertha 3 Retire at Gables Elementary School Won't Be The Same
-Staff Photo by Raymond Long Mrs. Webb; Chuck Taylor, 1021 Matanzas Ave.; Peggy Jarvis, 1213 Tangier St. By HELEN REYNOLDS Times Society Editor Three staff members of historic Coral Gables Elementary School will bring to a close 61 years of devoted service at the end of the school year in June. Mrs. Bertha Webb, principal of the school for 15 years and a member of the Dade County School system for 35 years, will no longer be found talking to parents, listening to the problems of the children or issuing instructions to the school staff. After this school year is over, she'll be spending most of her time getting better acquainted with her three grandchildren, and resuming a childhood hobby of china painting. PRIVATE SCHOOLS A native Floridian, Mrs. Webb was educated in Episcopalian girl schools and to this day believes that private schools are the best things for young girls. "You learn better when the classes are small, and there are no boys to distract you," she said. She lived in Havana for eight years and while there became friendly with the wife of Fidel Castro. She described Castro's wife as a "beautiful girl and one that told her friends that she was afraid of her husband because of the crazy ideas that he had." On one of her trips to Mexico, she told us of the time she saw a maddened bull hurdle the wall at a bull fight and land in the lap of a woman wearing a red coat. "Weren't you scared?" we asked. "No, I wasn't, but a woman (See CG, Page 2)
Bring the Family
You and your whole family are invited to the Youth Center's Recreation Jamboree Saturday night at 7 o'clock. It's the kickoff for the summer's program. The evening's festivities — including snowballs—are free. An exhibition in archery will be one of the highlights.
A Present for You
The most exciting thing about Our Town is the people who live in it. Inside today you will find many stories about Coral Gables families and individuals with a different touch. All are good reasons why the new Times is gaining readers everyday.
Professional packers and wrappers
for shipping or mailing. "The Barefoot Mailman", 234 Valencia Ave., C. Gables-adv
$5 and One Fight Later, It's Over
Real Estate broker Peter B. Clark's long quarrel with the city of Coral Gables ended in Municipal Court May 23 when he obtained an occupational license and paid $5 court costs. Clark, and a group of businessmen based in other communities, but doing business in Coral Gables, balked at getting the license. A resident of Coral Gables at 4121 Barbarossa Ave., Clark once appeared before the City Commission to plead his case.