Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1956 [PAGE 997]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

994

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 23

402 600 234 000 136

1. Department of Biological Chemistry, Chicago Professional Colleges, equipment $ 3 2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, to ventilate a section of the main steam tunnel in the basement of the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 3 3. School of Journalism and Communications, equipment for the typography laboratory 3 4. College of Fine and Applied Arts, to alter and equip the center wing of the Sixth Street Building 11 Total $22 I concur.

On motion of Mr. Swain, these appropriations were made by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Herrick, Mrs. Holt, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Megran, Mr. Nickell, Mr. Swain, Mrs. Watkins, Mr. Williamson; no, none; absent, Mr. Bissell, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Stratton.

APPROPRIATION FOR REPAIRING DRILL HALL AT THE CHICAGO UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION (11) The Drill Hall at Navy Pier in Chicago, which is leased by the University as part of the quarters used by the Chicago Undergraduate Division, is in need of extensive structural repairs. It is used as a gymnasium for physical education classes and extramural sports and also for a variety of extracurricular activities requiring large areas. In August, 1955, structural failures in the laminated wood arches, which support the walls and roof of the building, were discovered. The bottoms of most of the arches had moved due to rotting, causing the arches to settle, and some have separated at the top. Thirty-five of the sixty heels are on the exterior of the building and need to be repaired. Temporary shoring has been installed pending permanent repairs. The University Legal Counsel has examined the lease between the University and the city of Chicago and it is his opinion that the city is under no legal obligation to make the necessary repairs at its expense. On the other hand, because the need of the repairs stems from structural defects in the construction of the building, he doubts whether the University is under the legal obligation to make them notwithstanding provisions in the lease requiring the University to keep the premises in good repair. T h e repairs have to be made, however, if the Drill Hall is to continue to be occupied and used by the University, and since the University must occupy and use the Drill Hall now and for some period in the immediate future, it follows that the University will have to assume whatever portion of the cost of the necessary repairs which the city is unwilling to pay. Negotiations have been conducted with representatives of the city, and they have indicated that the city is willing to assume one-third of the cost of the repairs if the University is willing to pay the remaining two-thirds of the same. It is therefore recommended that the repairs be authorized and that an assignment of $20,000 be made from the General Reserve fund for this purpose.

On motion of Mr. Herrick, this appropriation was made by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Herrick, Mrs. Holt, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Megran, Mr. Nickell, Mr. Swain, Mrs. Watkins, Mr. Williamson; no, none; absent, Mr. Bissell, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Stratton.

APPROPRIATION FOR EXPENSES IN CIVIL SERVICE PROCEEDINGS (12) Mrs. Mary L. Bentley, formerly employed as a nurse in the Research and Educational Hospitals, was suspended and later discharged for cause, subject to her right of a hearing under the state law creating the University Civil Service System of Illinois. The Statute provides, with reference to discharge procedure which is the responsibility of the Merit Board, that "The hearing board shall make and render findings of facts on the charges and transmit to the Merit Board a transcript of the evidence along with its findings of fact. The findings of the hearing board when approved by the Merit Board shall be certified to the employee."