Resolved, That the resolution adopted by this Board at meeting held October 20, 1915, authorizing the cancellation of certain assessments levied and assessed against property owned by the First Presbyterian Church of Tremont, upon payment of the sum of ten hundred and sixty-two dollars and thirty-four cents ($1,062.34) on or before December 16, 1915, be and the same is hereby amended by striking therefrom "December 16, 1915," and inserting in place thereof "June 16, 1916." The report was accepted and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative. Dock Department-New Plan for Improvement of the Water Front Between Canal Street and Grant Street, Borough of Richmond. A communication was received from the Commissioner of Docks transmitting for approval proposed new plan for improvement of the water front and harbor of The City of New York, between Canal Street and Grant Street, Stapleton, Borough of Richmond, adopted by the Commissioner of Docks in accordance with law January 21, 1916. A public hearing being necessary, the following resolution was offered for adoption: Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby fix 11 o'clock in the forenoon, on Wednesday, February 23, 1916, Room 16, City Hall, Borough of Manhattan, as the time and place for a public hearing, in the matter of the proposed new plan for the improvement of the waterfront and harbor of The City of New York, between Canal Street and Grant Street, Borough of Richmond, adopted by the Commissioner of Docks in accordance with law January 21, 1916, and transmitted to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund for approval. Which resolution was adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative. Note-At this point His Honor the Mayor arrived, and Alderman Dowling, sitting as Acting President of the Board of Aldermen, withdrew from the meeting. Dock Department-Issue of Corporate Stock for the Removal of Coenties Reef, Pier A, North River, January 24, 1916. Hon. JOHN PURROY MITCHEL, Mayor and Chairman of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: Sir-On April 26, 1915, a communication was addressed to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, through the Commissioner of Docks, by William M. Black. Colonel, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, with reference to removal of Coenties Reef about opposite the foot of Coenties Slip, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, which communication was referred at a meeting of the Board held April 30th, 1915, to the Committee on Transit. Pursuant to the instructions of Honorable George McAneny, Chairman of the Committee on Transit, I took the matter up with the Secretary of War and have just completed negotiations relative thereto. A joint resolution was adopted in the 63rd Congress and approved March 3, 1915. copy of which is attached, which provided, among other things, for the removal of Coenties Reef, the work not to be commenced until assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War shall have been received that the City of New York has made provision for the removal of said rock beyond the depth specified in said project to the depth of 40 feet. The project of the Army Engineers for this particular section of the river called for a navigable channel of 35 feet. There seemed to be no way of securing the 40-foot depth unless the City of New York contributed the sum necessary to further deepen the channel at that point to that depth. After several conferences with Col. Wm. M. Black, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.. in charge of the First District, New York City, it was made apparent to me that if the United States Government entered into a contract for the removal of the reef to the 35-foot plane and the City of New York entered into a contract to further remove the reef to the 40-foot plane, the total cost would be about $476,400, of which the city's contribution would be $300,500. The original estimate prepared by the Army Engineers for the City's portion of the expense was based upon the Government making a contract for a navigable channel of 35 feet with a 2-foot overdepth. Our expectation was that we would be permitted to deepen this to the 40-foot plane without any over-depth. The ruling of the Secretary of War, Chief of Engineers and the Judge Advocate General admits of only one interpretation applicable to this particular work, and that is that the United States Government will deepen the reet to the 35-foot plane and the City of New York will carry the depth to the 40-foot plane. The desire of the Secretary of War is to co-operate with the City in every way possible to reduce the cost of this work. The District Engineer and I have agreed upon a method for securing the best possible results with the minimum of cost, and which method, as I understand it, the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers have approved. The method to be pursued is as follows: That the United States Government shall prepare the necessary specifications and advertise for proposals for a lump sum price for removing Coenties Reef to a depth of 40 feet below mean low water. That the successful bidder shall enter into a contract with the United States for the removal of the reef to a depth of 35 feet for a consideration equal to the proportion of the total price which the United States estimates the volume of materials above the 35-foot plane bears to the United States estimate of the volume of material above the 40-foot plane. He shall enter into a contract with the City of New York for the material to be removed between the 35-foot and the 40-foot planes. The regular method adopted by the Army Engineers as to the percentage of payments, manner of measurement to prevail; all work to be supervised by the District Engineer officer, and the City to reimburse the Uinted States for the City's proportion of the inspection expense. A representative of the City to be placed on the work and have access to all reports, papers and certify to the performance of the work in accordance with the terms of the contract The Secretary of War to issue regulations to exclude all craft, excepting the United States Contractor's plant and the inspection boats of the United States and the City of New York from an area to be designated by him. By adopting this method the estimates of the Army Engineers for the proportion of the work to be paid for by the City is, including inspection expenses, $228,000instead of $300,500. But, to provide for any contingencies that may arise, it is in my opinion advisable to appropriate the sum of $240,000. In order to comply with the requirements of the United States authorities, that assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War shall have been received that the City of New York has made provision for the removal of said rock beyond the depth specified in said project to a depth of 40 feet, I beg to recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution similar to the attached recommending to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment that the Comptroller be authorized to issue corporate stock in the sum of $240,000 for the removal of Coenties Reef. Respectfully yours, R. A. C. SMITH, Commissioner of Docks. The Commissioner of Docks requested immediate action in order to facilitate the issue of corporate stock. Discussion of the matter followed. The following resolution was offered for adoption: Resolved. That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby recommend to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment that the Comptroller be authorized to issue corporate stock in the sum of two hundred and forty thousand dollars ($240.000) for the removal of the reef in the East River about opposite the foot of Coenties Slip, Borough of Manhattan, known as "Coenties Reef" so as to make a depth of water over said reef of forty (40) feet at mean low water, contingent upon the award by the United States Government of a contract to remove said reef to a depth of thirtyfive (35) feet; it being understood that the mater will be fully investigated and reported on by the Corporate Stock Budget Committee before any action is taken thereon by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Which resolution was adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative. JOHN KORB, JR., Secretary. Adjourned. 720-B-250-16 (B) COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUND OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. Proceedings of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, at a Meeting Held in Room 16, City Hall, at 11 o'Clock A. M., on Wednesday, February 9, 1916. Present-Frank L. Dowling, Acting Mayor; Alexander Brough, Deputy and Acting Comptroller; Henry Bruere, Chamberlain, and Francis P. Kenney, Chairman Finance Committee, Board of Aldermen. The minutes of the meetings held December 29, 1915, and January 12 and 26, 1916, were approved as printed. Resignation of George McAneny as President of the Board of Aldermen. Alderman Frank L. Dowling Now the Acting President of the Board of Alder men. The following was received from the City Clerk: City Clerk, February 7, 1916. Mr. JOHN KORB, Secretary, Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: By reason of such resignation, Alderman Frank L. Dowling, Vice-President of the Board of Aldermen, automatically became Acting President of the Board for the remainder of the term. The President of the Board of Aldermen being a member of the Sinking Fund Commission, this information is transmitted to you for your records. Very truly yours, P. J. SCULLY, City Clerk. February 1, 1916. Hon. P. J. SCULLY, City Clerk, Municipal Building, New York City: Dear Sir-I hereby resign the office of President of the Board of Aldermen of The City of New York, such resignation to take effect this day. Very truly yours, GEORGE McANENY. I, the City Clerk of the said City, do certify that I have compared the preceding with the original resignation of George McAneny as President of the Board of Aldermen, effective February 1, 1916, on file in my office, and that the same is a correct transcript therefrom, and the whole of such original. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal this seventh day of February, 1916. (Seal.) P. J. SCULLY, City Clerk. Which was ordered printed in the minutes. Chapin Home for the Aged and Infirm-Petition of, for a Confirmatory Deed of A request for a hearing having been made, the following gentlemen were heard. On motion, action in the matter was laid over for one week. (For petition and report of Comptroller see minutes of next meeting.) Armory Board-Approval of Plans, Form of Contract and Specifications and Estimate of Cost in the Sum of $3,300 for Storage and Locker Rooms in the Armory of the Second Battalion Naval Militia, N. Y. The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report of the Director of Bureau of Contract Supervision and offered the following resolution: February 2, 1916. To the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: Gentlemen-On January 17, 1916, there was received by the Bureau of Contract Supervision a communication from the Secretary of the Armory Board, dated January 14, 1916, requesting approval of plans, form of contract, specifications and an estimate of cost in the sum of $3.550 for storage and locker rooms, in the armory of the Second Battalion, Naval Militia, New York. The cost of this work is to be paid from a corporate stock fund of $3.550 authorized by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund on November 19, 1915, entitled "C. A. B.-52A, Armory Fund, Second Battalion, Naval Militia, Additional Locker Rooms." On January 25, 1916, there remained in the fund an unencumbered balance of $3,550. The plans and specifications provide for the excavation of the unfinished portion of the basement on the north side of the armory, the construction of brick walls to divide this area into four rooms and a corridor, also a cement floor over the entire area. Metal ceilings are to be provided in these rooms and in a portion of the corridor. Necessary painting is also to be done. The plans submitted do not provide for electric lighting. Owing to the increased cost of labor and materials since the original estimate was made, it was suggested by the Bureau of Contract Supervision that the cement floor in the large storage room be omitted to reduce the cost and that the specifications be amended to omit the cinders under the cement floor, as it is entirely within the building and the soil is sand. These suggestions were agreed to by the Secretary of the Armory Board. With these amendments the cost of the work is estimated at $3,300, exclusive of the electric lighting. I recommend the adoption of the attached resolution approving the form of contract, the plans and specifications, as amended, at an estimated cost of $3,300. Respecfully, PETER J. McGOWAN, Acting Director. Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, pursuant to its resolution adopted on October 25, 1911, hereby approves the form of contract, the plans and specifications, as amended, and the estimate of cost of three thousand three hundred dollars ($3,300) for all labor and materials necessary in the construction of the locker and storage rooms in the Second Battalion Naval Militia Armory, Borough of Brooklyn, the cost to be charged to the corporate stock fund entitled "C. A. B. 52A. Armory Fund, Second Battalion Naval Militia, Additional Locker Rooms," provided that if no bids are received for such work within the estimated cost, the amount of such estimated cost upon the bids so received may be reconsidered, in its discretion, by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund or any official designated by them, provided that any of the said bids is within the amount authorized and available for such work. The report was accepted, and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative. Board of Estimate and Apportionment-Approval of Resolution of, Adopted January 21, 1916, Waiving, Under Conditions Stated Therein, Rules Adopted September 17, 1915, Governing the Acceptance of Deeds Conveying to the City of New York Real Property Within Its Street Lines. The following was received from the Secretary of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment: January 22, 1916. JOHN KORB, JR., Esq., Chief Clerk, Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: Dear Sir-I transmit herewith certified copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment January 21, 1915, waiving, under conditions stated therein, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, the rules adopted on September 17, 1915, governing the acceptance of deeds conveying to The City of New York real property within street lines. Respectfully, JOSEPH HAAG. Secretary. Resolved, Subject to the approval of the Board of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, that the rules governing the acceptance of deeds conveying to The City of New York real property within street lines, adopted by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment on September 17, 1915, be waived as to deeds in the possession of or tendered to the offices of the Borough Presidents, the Law Department or the Board of Estimate and Apportionment at the time of the adoption of said rules by the said Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and that such deeds be accepted by the Corporation Counsel under the conditions contained in the sections of the Street Opening Law, and under the terms fixed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment relating to the acceptance of deeds of cession as these were in force prior to the enactment of chapter 606 of the Laws of 1915. |