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May 30, 1978
<br />
<br />At a regular meeting of the City Council, held on May 30, 1978, there were present:
<br />Richard J. Davis, Jack P. Barnes, E. Saunders Early, Jr., Archie Elliott, Jr.,
<br />Edward L. Oast, Jr.,' ~ob~rt~.~- Wentz, Jr., Robert T. Williams, City Manager,
<br />Gordon B. Tayloe, Jr., City Attorney.
<br />
<br /> Absent: James W. Holley, III
<br />
<br /> The Rev. Harry L. Kidd, Jr., Pa~tQr~ Cottage Place United Methodist Church, epe~e~ the
<br />meeting with prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag~
<br />
<br /> Mayor Davis welcomed all visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Wentz and seconded by Mr. Early, the minutes of the called meeting of May 9,
<br />1978; minutes of the regular meeting of May 9, 1978, to be approved as received: was adopted
<br />by unanimous vote.
<br />
<br /> 78-156 Mr. Robert O. Williams~ City Manager, presented to Mayor Davis Supplemental
<br /> Certificate of Conformance in Financial Reporting which was awarded to the City of Portsmouth
<br /> by the Municipal Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for ~ts annual
<br /> ~inancial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1977. The award to be displayed in ~he
<br /> Council Chamber.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Williams pres'ented to Mr. Roy W. Cherry, Director of Finance, an Award of Financial
<br /> Reporting Achievement, which is presented by the Municipal Finance Officers Association for
<br /> being instrumental in achieving a certificate of conformance in £inancial reporting. Mayor
<br /> Davis congratulated Mr. Cherry upon receiving this award.
<br />
<br /> ~8-157 Public Hearing was held on proposed changes of business personal property,
<br /> machinery and tools taxes, and utility taxes.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Rachel Benzie, 2604 Sterling Point Drive, representing the Portsmouth Chamber of
<br />Commerce, spoke against the increase o~ machinery a-nd tools ts×es and business personal pro-
<br />perty taxes, and suggested that the increase to be spread over several years.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. G. A. Wermick, 3503 South Street, representing Central Mid-City Civic League, spoke
<br />against the increase of utility taxes.
<br />
<br /> 78-158 Public Hearing on the Capital.Improvements Program for 1978-83; Public Hearing
<br />on General Revenue Sharing proposed budget for expenditures within the CIP were held.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Nancy W. H. Garrett, 2712 Sterling Point Drive, re~resenting the Portsmouth Genea-
<br />logical Society, spoke r~gardi~g funds for expansion to the ~iic l~br~ry to preserve the
<br />historical records of the city.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Velma Topping, ~618 South Street, representing Central Mid-City Civic League, spoke
<br />regarding curbs and gutters in Westhaven and Orego~ Acres.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Joyce Toar, 3005 Voyager Court,
<br />Child Care ~sseciation, spoke regarding
<br />Portsmouth Day Care Center.
<br />
<br />representing Portsmouth Service League and Tidewater
<br />additional funds ~o purchase playground equipment for
<br />
<br /> The following letter submitted with the Capital Improvements Program for 1978-83, from
<br />the City Manager:
<br />
<br /> "Enclosed is the City Manager's recommended Capital Improvemen~ Program for 1978-83. As
<br />in most recent years, emphasis has been placed on the upgrading of existing facilities and/or
<br />services, rather than on the initiation of new projects which would impact negatively on the
<br />operating budget. Emphasis has also been placed on projects which will significantly increase
<br />the tax base of our City.
<br />
<br /> As in the past, I tried to limit funding fm~mGeneral
<br />million , so as not to increase outstanding indebtedness beyond the
<br />pay. It is interesting ~o note that four project commitments begun
<br />that $4.5 million. They area as follows:
<br />
<br />James Hurst School
<br />Western Freeway Bridge
<br />Urban Renewal
<br />WaterfrontDevelopment
<br />
<br />$ 750,100
<br /> 450,000
<br /> 795,000
<br />$1,360,000
<br />
<br />Obligation Bonds to about $4.5
<br /> capability of the City to
<br /> in 1977 account for most
<br />
<br />Total $3,355,100
<br />
<br /> Thus, very little flexibility remained~and it was not possible to fund any other large
<br />capital projects using G. O. Bonds.
<br />
<br /> One additional project which should be noted is $500,000 in Revenue Sharing in the Urban
<br />Transportation Category for Reconstruction and Overlaying of Selected Streets. This project
<br />involve.s the city-wide repair of streets and highways which have been badly damaged during the
<br />past trio severe winters. These repairs have bec~me necessary in order to prevent further road
<br />deterioration which would then require more extensive repairs.
<br />
<br />The total 1978-79 spending package of $12,172,077, includes the following funding
<br />
<br />
<br />
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