The Key West Citizen

Number of Issues Before
Commissioners Tonight
City Commissioners meet tonight at 8:00 o'clock in a regular meeting. The main explosive issue will be the granting or rejection of liquor licenses. Prior to tonight's meeting, the equalization board will meet to approve Tax-Assessor Dion's recommendations, in answer to certain individual complaints of high assessment.

May Appoint Director

Also it is probable that a new Public Service Director will be appointed to take the place of Roy Hamlin, who resigned. City Manager Ellingson has given no hint as to whom he might name.

Strong candidate and conceded by both "the street" and City Hall to be a "sure thing" is a non-city employee. This week another rumor started, naming Key West's "most disliked man" to the post.

One city employee hoped that the new public service director will be a city employee. Reason given was the fact that the job grants no remuneration, and that were a non-city employee to acquire the position that he may have an "axe to grind."

Short Four Men

At present the police department is short at least three patrolmen, and they are not being appointed until the controversy as to eligibility is settled by the new civil service board members.

Board Inactive

Ralph Sierra, former chairman of the Civil Service Board, was asked by The Citizen the present status of the board. He replied that since the three board members had resigned, "no meetings have been held." The board is at present inactive. Sierra said that all he had received from the commissioners was a letter signed by the City Clerk, stating that the commissioners were holding the resignations for further study. Now, Sierra feels that there is no definite understanding, and that the commissioners should request that the board members serve for a period of, say 30 days, until three new members are chosen.

Speaking for himself only, Sierra mentioned that he, personally, would serve for a limited period, or until certain matters now in abeyance were cleared, but under the circumstances there was nothing he could do, and the present policeman controversy could not be acted on.

Louis Carbonell, newly elected city commissioner, at press time had not arrived in the city, and only four commissioners will be at tonight's expected stormy session to pass on the disputatious subjects to be presented.