The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, May 31, 1962, page 3 (of 20)

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Commissioners Tell Murphy to Stay Out Of Papers Verbal Blows Struck Over Job Plan

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter The controversy over Mayor Robert L. Searle's setting up a youth employment bureau at the Youth Center without City Commission approval blew up into one of the most acrimonious conference meetings in recent years Friday. Ironically, it wasn't Searle who was vilified but Commissioner Joe Murphy. Murphy had charged that the mayor violated the City Charter in acting unilaterally and delving into administrative matters. Commissioners C. L. Dressel Jr. and George Wilson, led by Dr. Franklin Evans, excoriated Murphy for making a public issue of Searle's actions. Murphy had expressed his displeasure to The Times after learning for the first time about the employment bureau plan in a downtown daily. Searle said Friday that he should have conferred with the Commission after having broached the subject some months back, but blamed the lack of time in setting up the program before school let out for his actions. "I am probably subject to criticism in that I didn't inform you ..." Searle said apologetically Friday in tracking back the events that led to last week's fiasco. Murphy said he didn't remember the meetings referred to when the subject was broached. This led to an exchange later with the Mayor, who said Murphy might have known about it if he had attended all the conference meetings. Bristling at the mayor's comment, Murphy shot back that Searle had missed meetings himself and inquired about what he termed the mayor's mysterious departure from last week's Commission meeting to confer privately with an attorney, Phillip Schiff. Searle did not return to the meeting. Murphy charged later that the meeting involved the mayor's alleged campaign against Metro Commission candidate Robert M. Brake, for whom Murphy was campaign manager. Murphy and Brake, are brothers-in-law. Searle has denied this and said that the meeting with Schiff had nothing to do with the Brake campaign and the real purpose was his private business. The mayor said he supported Mary Ann MacKenzie privately in her bid against Brake, helped get her a headquarters in Coral Gables, but did not campaign for her. Murphy Friday pressed Searle at Friday's meeting for details about the youth employment bureau. He asked the mayor where the funds would come to pay for the program. Searle said the recreation budget. Who had prepared the 3,000 letters that went out to businessmen asking them to cooperate? Robert Harrison, the personnel director, and Mrs. Jeannette Hunt, director of the Youth Center, Searle replied. Had the Recreation Advisory Board known of the plan? "I have no idea," said Searle. Who paid for the postage? The City. And who would provide space at the Youth Center? Murphy asked. "I imagine we will have to," the Mayor said wearily. "Why don't you stop beating around the bush," Dr. Evans snapped at Murphy. Murphy asked Evans if he would rather ask the questions. Commissioner Wilson, who treaded a middle of the road course through the discussions, told Searle that he should have kept the Commission informed, although he had no objections to the program. "I was very disturbed when I read the paper yesterday," Wilson said. "Let's come in here and air out our differences." Later Wilson accused Murphy of making "a grandstand play" with his blast in the paper. City advertising and publicity director, Bert Burris, came under fire when Murphy sought to find out how the newspapers found out about Searle's plan before the Commission did. Burris said he tripped across the story accidently while at the City Hall print shop where the 3,000 letters were being prepared. He said he checked with Harrison and Mrs. Hunt and prepared a release based on the letter. "I was not encouraged in any way by Bob to use his name," said Burris. Murphy insisted the plan and release should have had the approval of the City Commission. Searle agreed. At which point Commissioner Dressel delivered a long defense of the mayor's actions. "I wouldn't accuse anybody on this commission of being glory seekers," said Dressel. Searle's venture had not been a commercial one, he said. The important thing, he said, is that something was being done. When Evans said that the mayor is the nominal head of the City and exercised his prerogatives Murphy tossed in the City Charter. "You'd better read the Charter," he told Evans. Murphy told Evans he had expressed different views when he discussed the mayor's plan after it was first revealed in the press. "He's admitted that was a mistake," Evans replied. When Evans asked Murphy if he thought the matter was one of personal aggrandizement for Searle, Murphy replied that it was. Murphy had accused Searle of using the release as a vehicle in his candidacy as Democratic State Committeeman. The meeting ended on that note.

New Officers For Civic Club

CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, May 31, 1962 3 Coral Gables Civic Club installed new officers. Installation officer was Mrs. William O. Mehrtens, president of the Dade County Federation of Women's Clubs. The president, Mrs. Joseph Franzen, was seated for her second term as president, Mrs. Harry C. Priest, second vice president; Mrs. Henry Spitz Mrs. George B. Gray, secretaries, and Mrs. C. H. Goodlow, treasurer. Mrs. F. J. Ruhlman, is the new first vice president of the Coral Gables Civic Club.

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Paint Job, New Drapes Underway for Hospital

Coral Gables' second largest industry is undergoing internal improvements. That would be Doctors' Hospital, which employs between 450 and 575 people, depending on the number of patients. The hospital is putting in new drapes in all rooms to replace the Venetian blinds. The entire interior is being repainted and the dark tile in the halls will be replaced with a lighter Mahlon P. Clark, the hospital's assistant director, said this week that no building plans are in the works for this year. Parking continues to be a problem, he noted. The hospital has looked into leasing the metered lot across from its front entrance but Clark said the sum required by the City is too expensive. He said that the grassy triangular plot at University Drive and Campo Sano Avenue might be paved to help alleviate some of the parking problem. And if you're wondering what the Gables' largest industry is, it's located just behind Doctors' Hospital and is the University of Miami.

We Ask Metro For A Refund

A refund of all monies collected by Metro for police and fire protection in municipalities has been asked by the Coral Gables Budget Advisory Board. In a resolution, the Board points out that the City provides police and fire protection of a quality not possible from the county. The board also claims that taxes levied on the cities are being used to provide fire and police protection in the unincorporated areas.

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