MIN CC 04/06/1982April 6, 1982 CITY COUNCIL MEETING BOOK N, PAGE 205
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 1982 IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 7:00 P.M.
The Council met in regular session with the following members present:
William V. Nash, Mayor
Murray A. Brown
Larry Corley
E. Larry Dickens
Jerry L. Dowling
Bill Hodges
Delora King
Goree McGlothen
Jane Monday
The meeting was called to order by the Honorable William V. Nash, Mayor. The invocation was presented by
the Reverend Thomas Holcomb, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church.
MAYOR'S REPORT
William V. Nash, Mayor, welcomed the family of outgoing City Councilmember E. Larry Dickens as well as his
friends, associates and colleagues, city staff personnel and former city councilmembers. Mayor Nash noted Dr.
Dickens has served on the City Council since April of 1973 and as Mayor Pro tem since April of 1978 and that he
has served the maximum term authorized by the City Charter.
E. Larry Dickens Comments -- Outgoing Councilmember
Councilmember E. Larry Dickens then recognized his wife, Susan, and their five children; former council -
members and mayor. He recalled some memories of his past service on the City Council and shared some of those
with those present. He also recognized former City Manager Jim McAlister who played an important role in his
early days on the City Council.
Councilmember Dickens noted he is proud of the work the City accomplished to alleviate the Avenue C flooding
problems; changes in the ordinance to allow the roller rink to operate in Huntsville; his pioneering of the
Quality of Life Commission; change in the ordinance to allow the swans on Sam Houston Pond; establishment of
Rather Park, mainly because these are things that uplift the human spirit. He noted he is most proud of the
credibility or legitimacy of university people being on elected bodies in the City of Huntsville as they were
previously thought to not be active in off - campus activities. He hopes that his tenure on the Council has aided
in the development of more aggressive, assertive and active City Councilmembers.
One of Dr. Dickens'disappointments during his tenure on the Council was his inability to convince doubters
among the public that councilmembers serve only for sinister motives and that they would sell out to big power
brokers, i.e., SWEPCO, etc. He then offered some advice to the new incoming City Councilmember, Stephen E. Davis.
regarding what may be expected of him by the public versus the reality of the matter. He discussed the flow of
information and communication and noted he did not feel it was the responsibility of the City Council to inform
the public but that the Council should not hinder the free exchange of information. He noted the local newspaper
and radio station are the mediums for public information and this is their responsibility. He felt it is also
the responsibility of the public to seek out "what is going on at City Hall."
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
Councilmember Jane Monday presented to the City Hall a plaque in honor of Councilmember Dickens because it
was his suggestion that such a plaque be placed in the City Hall. The plaque listed all of the Councilmembers
and Mayor who have served in the new City Hall (since 1976). He was then given his name plate to add to the
plaque indicating his service to the City from 1973 -1982.
Mayor Bill Nash then presented a plaque to E. Larry Dickens in appreciation for his outstanding service to
the citizens of Huntsville.
Gene Pipes, City Manager, noted that upon the request of E. Larry Dickens, the City has acquired a trophy
case in which to exhibit all of the awards it has received. He then noted the City won a "best all around" trophy
for its float in the Walker County Fair and he wanted Councilmember Dickens to have to honor to place this trophy
in the new trophy case which was placed in the City Hall in his honor and is so inscribed.
The City Manager, Gene Pipes, then presented Councilmember Dickens with a City of Huntsville Belt Buckle
inscribed with "9 years of service."
Mr. Tom McBee, representing the employees of the City, then presented Councilmember Dickens with a gold
parking meter, mounted on a pole, inscribed with his name, title and dates of service and the note that his service
has been monitored and his time is now up. The City Manager noted the City does not give gold watches, but it
does give gold parking meters.
Existing City Councilmembers then expressed their farewells and comments of appreciation. Councilmember
Dickens then made some humorous closing remarks about each of his colleagues on the council.
CONSIDER RESOLUTION N0. 82 -7 CANVASSING AND ACCEPTING RESULTS OF RETURNS OF THE APRIL 3 ELECTION
After a diligent canvass of the election returns from all eight voting precinct polling places, Council-
member Dowling made the motion to accept Resolution No. 82 -7 and Councilmember Hodges seconded the motion. All
were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. The caption of this resolution is as follows:
RESOLUTION 82 -7
A RESOLUTION CANVASSING THE RETURNS OF THE REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD WITHIN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE
ON THE 3RD DAY OF APRIL, 1982, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS FROM THE RESPECTIVE AT-
LARGE POSITIONS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR, AND FOR THE FURTHER PURPOSE OF VOTING ON FIFTEEN PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS; DECLARING THE RESULTS OF SAID ELECTION;
FINDING THAT NOTICE OF SAID ELECTION WAS DULY AND PROPERLY GIVEN AND THAT SAID ELECTION WAS PROPERLY
HELD AND THE RETURNS THEREOF MADE BY THE PROPER OFFICIALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS.
In compliance with H.B. No. 436, an act relating to the quantity of ballots to be furnished to voting
precincts (Texas Vernon's Civil Statutes, Chapter 278, Section 64, Page 602, the following record is made.
Ballots delivered to Precinct Judges on April 1, 1982 totaled and were numoered consecutively as follows:
Precinct Number Ballots From To Absentee Ballots
101
102
105
201
202
206
301
401
101
799
100
280
800
200
750
750
121 321
322 1120
1121 1220
1121 1500
1501 2300
2301 2500
2501 3250
3251 4000
6
39
5
14
15
12
19
11
Numbered within a
sequence from
001 to 120
001 to 120
001 to 120
001 to 120
001 to 120
001 to 120
001 to 120
001 to 120
ELECTION RESULTS TOTAL VOTES CAST THIS ELECTION: 1,685
% of
Candidates
and Positions
ine iota' votes nv city rrecrnc s anu
rer‘cnrayc. v-
rrc,in,ua
lymmi
Votes
Total
101 % of
Total
102 % of
Total
105 % of
Total
201 % of
Total
202 % of
Total
206 % of
Total
301 % of
Total
401 % of
Total
Position 1
55
46
70
32
71
22
84
21
68
29
99
5
85
16
50
47
95
4
48
54
98
4
80
16
84
10
55
45
89
10
236
157
283
115
266
96
278
117
269
119
355
37
333
69
221
165
348
30
201
187
367
28
331
58
312
62
196
181
311
69
26
25
36
15
24
23
31
20
28
23
37
12
36
16
20
30
42
7
15
35
40
12
36
13
34
18
22
24
36
11
150
79
171
58
174
43
168
63
170
53
215
12
190
36
137
85
203
10
139
80
215
12
196
18
182
35
140
79
192
26
136
71
147
56
150
43
140
66
153
50
187
22
175
34
125
78
185
17
127
82
188
21
168
38
177
24
119
85
167.
34
83
43
90
39
95
21
96
35
94
25
115
7
101
28
59
61
106
10
67
57
118
7
104
14
104
16
76
43
99
21
99
69
133
38
92
60
124
46
113
50
151
15
134
39
75
95
140
22
80
89
158
17
132
34
111
52
81
81
128
35
109
98
154
60 .
128
57
158
60
152
49
193
18
169
41
112
95
184
17
113
98
20?
12
178
30
153
47
104
102
165
38
894 60%
.
1084 72%
1000 73%
1079 72%
1047 72%
1352 91%
1223 81%
.
799 55%
1303 92%
790 54%
1386 92%
1225 85%
1157 81%
793 55%
1187 83%
588 40%
413 28%
365 27%
428 28%
398 28%
128 9%
279 19%
656 45%
117 8%
682 46%
113 8%
221 15%
264 19%
640 45%
244 17%
Joe Lawson
11
9%
100
23%
12
19%
45
18%
29
13%
18
13%
41
20%
37
17%
293
18%
Larry Corley*
57
49%
237
55%
33
61%
151
61%
135
61%
66
50%
111
55%
107
50%
897
55 %*
James Weber
49
42%
97
22%
17
27%
50
20%
57
26%
51
37%
50
25%
72
33%
443
27%
Position 2
Bill Hodges *
93
100%
354
100%
45
100%
210
100%
182
100%
105
100%
143
100%
162
100%
1294
100 %*
Position 3
James Carter
61
54%
134
33%
31
53%
69
29%
69
32%
56
45%
75
41%
86
44%
581
38%
Stephen Davis *52
46%
274
67%
28
47%
173
71%
144
68%
68
55%
108
59%
108
56%
955
62 %*
Position 4
Tom Kordinak
50
43%
146
34%
28
48%
77
31%
72
33%
65
49%
81
42%
90
43%
609
38%
Murray Brown *67
57%
279
66%
30
52%
168
69%
146
67%
68
51%
113
58%
119
57%
990
62 %*
*Winners
THE INFORMAL WRITE -INS FOR OFFICE
Precinct
Position Write -in
Votes
102 4 Henry Batten
206 2 Mary Davis
206 2 Dr. Nance
301 2 Paul McGraw
301 2 Charles Tackett
301 3 Ed Davis
401 2 George Russell
401 4 Ed Luker
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Amendments - -15
City Precinct Numbers
For Total
Against Total
101
102
105 201 202
206
301
401
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against _
For
Against
For
Against _
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
For
Against
55
46
70
32
71
22
84
21
68
29
99
5
85
16
50
47
95
4
48
54
98
4
80
16
84
10
55
45
89
10
236
157
283
115
266
96
278
117
269
119
355
37
333
69
221
165
348
30
201
187
367
28
331
58
312
62
196
181
311
69
26
25
36
15
24
23
31
20
28
23
37
12
36
16
20
30
42
7
15
35
40
12
36
13
34
18
22
24
36
11
150
79
171
58
174
43
168
63
170
53
215
12
190
36
137
85
203
10
139
80
215
12
196
18
182
35
140
79
192
26
136
71
147
56
150
43
140
66
153
50
187
22
175
34
125
78
185
17
127
82
188
21
168
38
177
24
119
85
167.
34
83
43
90
39
95
21
96
35
94
25
115
7
101
28
59
61
106
10
67
57
118
7
104
14
104
16
76
43
99
21
99
69
133
38
92
60
124
46
113
50
151
15
134
39
75
95
140
22
80
89
158
17
132
34
111
52
81
81
128
35
109
98
154
60 .
128
57
158
60
152
49
193
18
169
41
112
95
184
17
113
98
20?
12
178
30
153
47
104
102
165
38
894 60%
.
1084 72%
1000 73%
1079 72%
1047 72%
1352 91%
1223 81%
.
799 55%
1303 92%
790 54%
1386 92%
1225 85%
1157 81%
793 55%
1187 83%
588 40%
413 28%
365 27%
428 28%
398 28%
128 9%
279 19%
656 45%
117 8%
682 46%
113 8%
221 15%
264 19%
640 45%
244 17%
For an explanation of the 15 charter amendments, turn to page 207.
• Amendment Number Description
1 Change City Council voting procedures to allow abstentions?
2 Require the Mayor to vote?
3 Delete the old legal description of municipal boundaries?
4 Change "Councilman" to "Councilmember "?
5 Revise councilman qualifications regarding property, ownership, residency and age?
6 Require presentation of ordinances in writing to council before adoption and to
require publication of ordinances twice within ten days of passage by City Council?
7 Allow Mayor to remove board or commission members only with approval of Council?
8 Limit the scope of grievances appealable to City Council?
9 Provide for April elections?
10 Allow the City Manager to establish certain city departments?
11 Require the City Manager to submit quarterly financial reports?
12 Authorize City Council to establish purchasing procedures by ordinance?
13 Change the City's tax collection procedures as provided by state law?
14 Eliminate the requirement that contract documents be filed at the City Library?
15 Provide a Charter Review Committee?
Total Registered Voters in City: 6,330* Total Voters voting in this election 1,760
Precinct Total Votes Cast Percent of Total Eligible to Vote
101 118 7%
102 444 26%
105 72 4%
201 252 15%
202 223 13%
206 136 8%
301 197 12%
401 243 15%
1685 100%
*Percent eligible to vote who did vote on April 3, 1982: 28 %.
THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS OF OFFICE
The City Secretary, Ruth DeShaw, then issued to each of the new elected and re- elected councilmembers, their
Certificate of Election. Each of the Councilmembers then took the Oath of Office administered by the City
Secretary.
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council then adjourned to a recognition reception in honor of outgoing City Councilmember, E. Larry
Dickens, to be held in the City Hall. Members of the public were also in attendance for the reception.
Res o tfully submitted,
laid/
uth DeShaw, City Secretary
April 8, 1982