The Coral Gables Times

Ex Post Facto Howls Continue On Raised Business Fees Here

Men Making Suggestion Hear Pleas By RAYMOND LANG Times Reporter Coral Gables businessmen, angered over the raising of their occupational license fees, aired their complaints Monday night before the Budget Advisory Committee at City Hall. Fifteen businessmen representing seven of the 18 businesses affected by the new fees told the committee why they thought the raise is unfair. The increase was effective Oct. 1. In some cases, the fees were raised two-and-a-half times the original amount. Raising of the fees means additional revenue of $30-$35,000 for the City. The businessmen made two major points: One, the new fees are "discriminatory." Of all businesses in Coral Gables, why were just these 18 singled out? the committee was asked. Two, the purpose of an occupational license is to regulate that business, not to raise revenue for the city, it was maintained. Several businessmen, notably in insurance, pest control and real estate, said they are already well-regulated by state agencies. The committee, whose purpose is to recommend, listened for two hours, starting at 7:30 p.m. It will now study the issue and make suggestions to the City Commission. The Commission, which unanimously passed the ordinance raising the occupational fees on July 18, can repeal it. Lawrence J. Lalle, committee chairman, explained to the Gables businessmen that while "it would be difficult to amend the ordinance, it can be done." Even Karl Marx, the "Father of Communism," was mentioned in connection with the raising of the license fees. An exterminator, impassioned because he said the fees made it tough for a young businessman to succeed, said that Marx warned of the dangers of excess taxation. Lallel and Kenneth Allyn, head of the finance department, agreed at the hearing that the main reason the City raised the fees is that surrounding communities charged much more than the Gables and that our fees should be more in line with theirs. "This is not a revenue-raising project," Allyn said. "We just wanted to reconcile the license fees in the Gables with other communities." King Louie, manager of the Aloha restaurant, countered with "I think it is strictly unfair ... To me it isn't right just because other cities do it." Louie, after hearing Allyn report that Miami and Miami Beach had much higher restaurant license fees, pointed out that restaurants in those two municipalities also have liquor licenses which make the fee higher. The Aloha does not have a liquor license and so this is an license and so this is an unfair comparison, Louie said. "We've been sweating there (at the Aloha) for four years trying to make Coral Gables proud of it and we've worked hard," Louie said, stressing that the new license fee is a burden. After Louie finished enunciating what was the first major point for the businessmen attorney Bernard B. Weksler, representing the Florida Pest Control Association, made the second major point, that of regulation. Weksler said the purpose of an occupational license fee is to regulate, not to raise revenue. He added that exterminators are already closely supervised by state agencies. Allyn said later in an interview that a Miami court recently ruled that an occupational license fee can be used to raise revenue, as well as to regulate. The last speaker for the businessmen was Fred Hartnett, former Coral Gables mayor, who represented the Chamber of Commerce. "It is most important the City not allow attrition," Hartnett warned, saying that the new fees tend to destroy the image persons have of the Gables as a "great" city. "It is most unfortunate," Hartnett went on, "that those who were interested to come here tonight ... that their counsel and foresight was not asked for before the increase. "There is a remedy for it. And that is a repeal of the ordinance." Groups who were represented were the restaurants, exterminators, theatres, waste collectors, insurance, real estate and the Chamber of Commerce. ABSORBED IN THEIR duties as members of the Budget Advisory Board are, at left and with his face buried in a sheet of statistics, Willard Brown, a vice president of First National Bank, and John F. Conroy, a certified public accountant.

Merry Christmas

The delay in Le Jeune Road construction will not effect the large Christmas display across from City Hall in Merrick Park, Al Jacobson, of the Christmas decorations committee, said this week. "That portion of Le Jeune will be open," he said.

Tax Easing Stirs Fracas At City Hall

(Continued from page 1) fect, a 30-day lease because of a 30-day cancel on notice clause. "I think that the City was duped into entering into a contract violating the Charter provisions," said Weksler. "I say that the owner, whoever he may be, be informed and advised that the City should bill him for back taxes or refund the money (to him)," he said. Weksler had questioned that Sottile owned the property, since he was not the owner of record. If the City made money on the agreement, it should be returned to Sottile, and back taxes paid to both the City and County, the attorney said. "You've been like a shotgun around here scattering shot," Semple told Weksler," Once in a while you hit something good." The City attorney said that Weksler had gone too far with a letter he had written to the Commission which he said was injurious to him in impuging his motives. Semple said that the entire transaction with Sottile had been wide open and legal. He accused Weksler of "running for office" in making his charges. "That's not the way you run for political office in Coral Gables," Weksler said he had learned. He was a candidate in the April municipal election. Al Jacobson who was chairman of the Traffic and Parking Committee of the Chamber of Commerce at the time the arrangement with Sot was made, said that he thou it was a wonderful thing because it provided downtown parking for employes. City Commissioner Franklin Evans then ripped into Weksler. He blasted his letter to the Commission for what he said was unsubstantiated charges. "This Commission would have voted the same way . . . I for one see nothing wr with what previous commissions have done," said Evans. Weksler then told Evans, an attorney as well as physician, that what he might do as a private attorney he could not do as a public official. "If we have a charter, let's live by it," said Weksler. Commissioner George Wilson told Weksler that he thought it was a matter of dotting i I's and crossing the T's. He said he believed the Commission had the right to enter into the type of lease negotiated with Sottile. "As far as we are concerned, we have complied with the Charter," Mayor Robert L. Searle told Weksler. Commissioner C. L. Dressel Jr. made no comment and Commissioner Joe Murphy left room when Semple attacked Weksler.

Le Jeune Work Behind; Finish Date Now Feb.

(Continued from page 1) cut down the size of the traffic island at the intersection of Le Jeune and University Drive. Still other delays occurred, according to Grubbs, when the City of Coral Gables and Consumers Water Co. decided to change some of their underground sewage and water facilities not anticipated when the contract was signed. No extensions have been granted on this, however. "The job is rolling right alonw now," said Grubbs. The granting of a 48-day extension by the SRD does not necessarily mean that the project will not be completed before that time, but he added that it might extend beyond that time if additional changes are made or inclement weather interferes with construction. Grubbs said he expected two-lane north-south traffic to be unimpeded and that east-west traffic across Le Jeune will not be greatly affected from now on except in isolated areas from time to time.

We Help Metro The Mostest

Continued From Page 1 ously reported a Gables majority of 6,400. Metro Commissioner Winston Wynne of this city is credited with being one of the strongest workers in preserving Metro. Unofficial results: Precinct | For McLeod | Against McLeod 161x | 305 | 526 162x | 403 | 524 163 | 297 | 402 164 | 498 | 747 174 | 345 | 607 175 | 244 | 498 176 | 327 | 448 185 | 338 | 865 186 | 148 | 382 198x | 346 | 997 199x | 152 | 492 200x | 691 | 969 Total | 4094 | 7657 Note: Precincts designated with x following the number lie partially outside Coral Gables.

A BOOK

Who said, "A book may be as great a thing as a battle?" You can find out at your Coral Gables Public Library.

FRAMED BY A ROOT, BULLDOZER WORKS ON LE JEUNE