The Coral Gables Times

2 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, January 11, 1962

They'll Hear Gri[TEXT LOST]n't Act on Them

(Related Story on Page 1) How did the Metropolitan Charter Review Board come into existence? What is its function? Who are its members? These are some of the questions you may have asked yourself in reading about the board's series of public hearings being held throughout Dade County with a meeting scheduled here tonight (Thursday), 7:30 p.m. at the Coral Gables Youth Center. The board was created by the Metro Commission on Oct. 3, 1961, to find out the areas of public opposition to Metropolitan Home Rule government. It has no power of its own. It may only make recommendations to Metro. To fathom public opinion, it's holding a half dozen or so meetings throughout the county. It was also reaction to for[TEXT LOST]mer Joh[TEXT LOST] the chi[TEXT LOST] ly of [TEXT LOST] Th[TEXT LOST] row m[TEXT LOST] What are the board's functions? —Review and make continuous study of the charter. —Make recommendations for the improvement clarifi-[TEXT LOST]ation of the [TEXT LOST]onsider sug-[TEXT LOST]oposals for [TEXT LOST]he charter [TEXT LOST]civic organ-[TEXT LOST]officials or in other areas. —Do everything necessary or desirable for improvement of the charter not inconsistent with provisions of the charter. Who are the members of the board? James I. Keller Jr., a certified public accountant, is chairman of the seven-man board made up of J. Abney Cox, farm and grove owner; Harold Rand, a doctor of medicine; J. H. Brock, an air-line vice president; George A. Frix, a real estate executive; William A. Graham, a dairy owner; and Frank Roche, a union executive. These men were selected for their outstanding civic, and community interest, integrity, responsibility, or professional or business ability. Metro's assistant budget officer, Robert M. Carson, serves as the board's secretary. —Conduct public hearings. —Sponsor and conduct study sessions and discussions. —Review and recommend changes in ordinances. —Study Metro government

Building Here Best Since '55; UM Helps

The University of Miami accounted for more than 30 per cent of all Coral Gables construction in 1961 — the best building year since 1955 using statistics alone and discounting inflationary factors. A new, nine story addition to the Richter Memorial Library accounted for $2,012,000; the new 720-women dorm, $2,220,000; the addition to the Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery, $108,000; and addition to the clinic, $25,000; and $6,000 for vending machine shelters. The total is $4,271,000, which is a considerable portion of the $13,632,473 grand total compiled by the Building and Zoning Department. This is the best figure in six years when the total was $14,057,507. And this year's total was also well ahead of 1960's figure of $12,888,265. Values given do not include land costs. Here is the 10-year breakdown on construction: 1961 | $13,632,473 1960 | $12,888,265 1959 | $13,102,969 1958 | $12,691,773 1957 | $13,284,443 1956 | $11,055,381 1955 | $14,057,507 1954 | $16,373,704 1953 | $14,806,266 1952 | $ 9,871,704 The 1961 total might have been $1 million ahead or better than last year, but a significant drop was recorded in December. Only $399,936 in new construction, repairs, remodelling and other work was started compared to $724,688 for the same month in 1960. The best month was August, $2,939,810; the worse, December, $399,936. UM's 720 dorm was also the largest single permit issued. Other major construction begun in Coral Gables last year included the pool and locker room at the Coral Gables Country Club, $168,000. The three-story Gables Arcade Building that replaced the old Riviera Times Building, $175,000. A two-story addition by the Elveeay Corp. on top of Surrey's, on Miracle Mile, $150,000. Another two-story addition by the Ponce-Alhambra Corp. at the southwest corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Alhambra Circle, $164,000. The Newgate Corp. built a $175,000 residence, pool and cabana at 6595 Granada Blvd., but this was topped by Arthur Vining Davis who built a new home at 9555 Old Cutler Rd. costing $245,000. Finally, a 45-unit apartment was constructed at 6580 Santana St., by the Santona-Nervia Corp. which cost $320,000.

Car Hits Canal; He Drowns

A 20-year-old youth lost his life early Friday morning when his convertible plunged into the canal at Riviera Drive and Menendez Avenue after a couple of drinking engagements. According to Metro investigators, Clarence James Brown III, of 2904 SW 37th Ct., died of drowning shortly before 1 a.m. after he apparently fell asleep while driving north on Riviera Drive and his car swerved off the street. The Kwik Chek company employe's body was recovered from the canal by Metro Officer R. H. McMillan using skin diving apparatus. McMillan found the body on the car's front seat. Gables Firemen Jerome S. Kirk and Robert Dymond arrived on the scene shortly before 1 a.m. but had no diving equipment. They attempted to revive Brown after he had been pulled from the wreckage, but Brown did not respond. Metro Lt. S. B. Billbrough, said the youth had stopped to visit a friend in the 5400 block of Riviera Drive and apparently fell asleep as he drove north on Riviera. A witness, Arthur P. Coppinger, of 5118 Riviera Dr., told police that he heard and saw the convertible hit the water. It hit wheels down and then the front plunged below the water, he told investigators. Brown bore a deep gash in his head, but medical examiners gave the cause of death as drowning. Investigators said he had been drinking before the accident. The accident was Coral Gables' first traffic fatality of the year. —Photo for The Times by Bob Kelly METRO FROGMAN RECOVERS BODY (ARROW)

LEAVING

— Hamilton Hayes is leaving Daniels Department Store Feb. 1 for a post to be announced later this month. He has been with the store for 10 years. Hayes is president of the Chamber of Commerce with three months left to go on his term. It is expected he will resign. Warren Blackmon is the chamber's first vice president.

RETURNING

— Ira (Dutch) Willard, until recently president of the City National Bank of Coral Gables, is returning to this city. He has left his job with a large land development firm near Washington, D.C. He says his plans here are not complete. He and his family are temporarily staying with a married daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Willis, at 1015 Catalonia Ave.

High-Rise Building For Bird Road Turned Down

(Continued from Page 1) the builders, asked the Commission for permission to go up five stories after being turned down on seven. But the Commission took no action on his new proposal other than to waive the one-year waiting period required under the law. The meeting produced lively comment from residents living north of Bird Road. Abraham Stein, 301 Velarde Ave., charged that legal notice had not been given for the meeting. This brought a denial from Miss Loretta Sheehy, who said notices were sent to affected residents and legal notice published in the newspapers. Stein said also that the building violated the zoning code and that inadequate provisions had been made for parking. "When you hear all this talk of money and seven-story buildings, you wonder if you are still in Coral Gables,' said Paul Hiller, 243 Velarde. He proposed that high rise buildings be built in Miami. The high rise proposal brought out Mrs. George Merrick, widow of the late founder of the City and owner of property near the affected area. "I would be happy to see the original plan carried out," said Mrs. Merrick, but she added that the awaited report of Rader and Associates might cause her to change her thinking in line with modern trends. The "original plan," generally limited buildings to three stories. City Commissioners met with Rader officials Monday to hear a preliminary report of their high rise and zoning studies. Rader is to meet later with the Zoning and planning Boards and others before presenting its final recommendations.

Comparison Shopping For Husband-Wife Tiff Costs

It's cheaper for a man to beat his wife than for a wife to beat her husband — at least it was in Municipal Court Tuesday. Judge Charles Spooner fined Anthony Frank Barone, 37, of 1212 Hardee Rd., $15 and court costs. He was charged with disturbing the peace by striking his wife, Barbara, on Jan. 4. But Lynda Morgan Decker, 377 Minorca Ave., former wife of Dr. James McShane Jr., 801 East Ponce Blvd., forfeited $75 bond rather than appear to defend a disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace charge. It was filed by her former husband after he said she assaulted him.

She Pays $155 To CG Court

A Southwest section woman was fined $155 in Coral Gables Municipal Court Tuesday on charges of resisting arrest and obstructing a police officer after he stopped her for speeding. Rose T. Sieferth, 35, of 12001 SW 174th St. immediately posted a $310 appeal bond. Miss Sieferth also faces charges of speeding and using a fictitious license in court.

Paintings Stolen

A Picasso drawing valued at $2,200, two paintings, a $2,000 mink stole and jewelry of undetermined value were reported stolen in a break at the home of Ed Berman, 6312 Caballero Blvd. Berman also reported to Gables police that $78 in cash was taken in the Jan. 4 break. One painting, by Schenk, was valued at $1,000 and the other painting, an oil by Epstein, had no cash value placed on it.