The Coral Gables Times

Coral Gables TIMES

Vol. 36, No. 48 24 Pages Thursday, January 11, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Gables Will Seek Return Of Powers From Metro

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter Metro would be stripped of virtually all its powers within municipalities if the recommendations of the City Commission to the Metropolitan Home Rule Charter Review Board are followed. The Commission is scheduled to present its recommendations along with those of private citizens at tonight's (Thursday) public hearing on the Metro Charter. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the Coral Gables Youth Center. In formulating their recommendations, the City Commission went down item by item in the present Metro Charter, weighed the comments of City Attorney Ted Semple and City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr., and came up with their own modifications. The City, striking for home rule of its own, will ask that municipalities be allowed to provide higher standards of zoning, service and regulation than provided by Metro. The charter does not guarantee this now. On the other hand, City officials are ready to recommend that any municipality not meeting the minimum standards set up by Metro be abolished. If followed, the City's recommendations would eliminate many of Metro's central government powers and allow the County government wide powers only in the unincorporated areas and in those municipalities which surrender their prerogatives voluntarily. The Commission's recommendations would also recognize the City's right to set higher standards of licensing. Reflecting largely the thinking of an old Metro foe, City Attorney Ted Semple, and City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr., the Commission's recommendations would also recognize the City's right to set higher standards of licensing. This has been a sore point since the James Burgin plumbing case in which the courts have ruled that Metro had power to set licensing qualifications and municipalities only the right to collect license fees. The Metro Court would also be scrapped as idealistic but not practical. Traffic law enforcement would return to municipal control within cities and Metro would run its own courts for the unincorporated areas and in those municipalities that still wanted Metro courts. But, having said this, city officials are ready to recognize a central county court administrator and to abide by a uniform traffic code. The Metro Commission itself would be reduced from 13 members to nine who would be elected from districts. These districts would be divided by character and not population. Commissioners would have to be qualified electors who had resided in their own district for at least six months. Municipalities would be allowed also to determine their own fiscal years, knocking out the present Charter requirement that all municipal fiscal years coincide with the County's. Planning for Metro would be an unincorporated area matter. It would keep out of cities, unless they voluntarily gave up their rights. Franchise control for Metro would be limited to the unincorporated areas and cities would continue to have their own franchise rights. (Editorial on page 4) (Related Story, Page 2)

No Noise, Please City Drops Curtain on Act 4

Act Four Coffee House is finding rough going in its plan to have entertainment along with a restaurant operation at 240 Palermo Ave. The City Commission last week deferred action on an appeal from a Zoning Board denial by Shady Grove Theatre Productions Inc. to permit the strumming of banjos, guitars and the recitation of poetry. Attorney Richard W. Wasserman and Alfred Mamlet, representing the restaurant, told the Commission that their operation would be similar to that at Paoletti's Restaurant, 2900 Ponce de Leon Blvd., which serves light entertainment along with regular meals. Wasserman and Mamlet said they would sell coffee, sandwiches, pastries and the like, but no liquor, beer or wine. Only one objection has been raised, that of Peter A. Zacharias, of 250 Palermo Ave. Zacharias said he feels the entertainment will cause excessive noise and create a nuisance in the neighborhood. Mamlet said the building will be air conditioned and that there will no no noise at all.

Robert Collins Is Named Newspapers' Ad Director

Robert W. Collins was named Wednesday as advertising manager of The Guide and The Coral Gables Times, weekly publications of Gables Publishing Co. He has already assumed his duties, according to an announcement from the paper's publisher, Rolfe Neill. Collins, 33, is a native of Philadelphia and a graduate of the University of Miami ('51), where he majored in radio and television. For the past six years he has been an advertising salesman with the Miami Herald. Previously, he was variously with the Miami News, in an advertising agency and editor of the Florida Motorist for the American Automobile Association. He is married to the former Miss Lois Minnich who with her family lived for many years on Alesio Avenue in Coral Gables. The Collinses have four children, Coleen, 8; Karen Lee, 7; Robin 3; and Linda Sue, 1. They are members of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and he is a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, Coral Gables Council. The family lives at 8240 SW 90th St. Collins succeeds Robert Slane who joined the advertising sales staff of The Herald. R. W. COLLINS

MUNCHING PEANUTS and gripping a soft drink between her knees is little seven-year-old and very much freckled Joan Frederick. Joan was at Salvadore Park the other day, looking a bit lost among all the teenagers. She's the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Frederick, 2817 Columbus Blvd. (Photo by Lang)

7-Story Building Is Nixed for Bird Road

Another high rise building plan came tumbling down Tuesday as the City Commission voted 3-1 against the proposed seven-story Giffen Building on the southeast corner of Bird Road and Estancia Street. The Commission majority's action resulted in a post-meeting blast from promoter-developer James R. Lowry. Lowry, former Chamber of Commerce president and president of Douglas Entrance Corp. called Commissioners George Wilson and Joe Murphy on their negative vote on the $800,000 high rise building proposal. The site is two blocks east of Coral Gables High School and two blocks west of Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Wilson and Murphy voted for Commissioner Franklin Evans' motion to deny. Mayor Robert L. Searle cast the only favorable vote and Commissioner C. L. (Jerry) Dressel Jr., abstained, saying he thought the Commission should wait before taking action. Lowry charged that the development of the City was being held back by persons who moved recently. About a dozen objectors appeared at the Commission meeting to protest the contemplated action. Frank Solomon, attorney for (See HIGH RISE, Page 2)

Heirloom Plus

A necklace and earing emerald set valued at $8,000 was stolen from the home of Juliet De Scalzi, 3704 LeJeune Rd., Jan. 8. The burglar took the family heirloom, an $800 platinum-diamond ring and a $700 white gold and diamond ring.

Joe Murphy Will Lead

Joe Murphy, the city's vice mayor, has been named chairman of a special Chamber of Commerce membership drive to be held for three days later this month. Under Murphy, the Chamber hopes to double last year's drive quota of 35 new members. Chamber membership is now about 450. The drive will begin with a kick-off breakfast Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Tyler's Restaurant on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Teams of men, totaling about 50, will fan out over the city for that day and the next days to visit some 400 or 500 prospects. A victory banquet at the CG Country Club will be held on Thursday of that week. Chamber membership is $50. JOE MURPHY

Professional packers and wrappers for shopping or mailing. "The Barefoot Mailman" 234 Valencia Ave., C. Gables.