Minutes 05/14/1974 - Laserfiche WebLink

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283 M~y 1,4 1 c~ '7 ~. the percentage of exemption allowed on the proposed ordinance. The freezing of assessmen and/or real estate taxes for the elderly has not been included in this procedure due to the variables which cannot be defined at this time. Therefore, we are unable to determine what the revenue impact would be of freezing the assessments or the real estate taxes." (See Exhibit 74-108-Report) The following letter received from Thomas D. Blanchard, Jr., Executive Secretary, Community Action, Inc., was read: 'This is to request that Mr. Richard R. Early representing Community Action, Inc. be allowed to speak to City Council on May 14, 1974, regarding the proposal for increased tax relief for senior citizens." Mr. Early made the following presentation: "The Community Action, Inc. subcommittee on Finance has discussed at great length the proposal now before council which would increase real estate tax relief to senior citizens. As you are aware Community Action, Inc. has in the past advocated measures ~hich would provide for services or relief to various segments of our city. We firmly believe that provision of services is the most vital function of municipal government. Our ad- herence to this principle must, however, be tempered by the sterner reality of financial limitations. We believe that the over-riding responsibility of municipal government is to maintain its own fundamental soundness so that it can respond adequately to the needs of the people. We feel that the proposal now before you does not at this time, meet the require- ment for fiscal planning. We do not believe that proper judgment can be made on such a proposal until the city budget has been finally prepared. We are concerned not only with the potential revenue loss to the city, but with the cost of additional staffing which will be required to process the program. We recommend, therefore, that this matter be deferred on second reading until such tim6 gE more budget information is available." Motion of Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. King to adopt the ordinance. Substitute motion of Mr. Early and seconded by Mr. Wentz, to postpone decision or final reading until rest of budget figures are all put together and we look at it in one total package, and was defeated by the following vote: Ayes: Early, Smith, Wentz Nays: Holley, Johnson, King, Barnes Motion of Mr. Wentz and seconded by Mr. Early, to amend the ord~nan~e_~hereby the section pertaining to freezing of taxes be delayed until a legal opinion can be rained, was adopted by the following vote: ob~ Ayes: Early, Holley, Smith, Wentz, Barnes Nays: Johnson, King Motion of Mr. Johnson and seconded.by Mr. King, that a legal opinion be given no later than June 11 and applications to be received until June 21, as an amendment to the ordinance, and was adopted by unanimous vote. The ordinance was adopted as amended, and by the following vote: Ayes: Holley, Johnson, King, Barnes Nays: Smith, Wentz Abstaining: Early Motion of Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. King that the City Attorney give his legal opinion on June i1 and that the City Manager notify the senior citizens by some methods of advertising so the applications can be received if it is legal, was adopted by unanimous vote. 74-161 Mr. John Ivy, Chairman, Park and Recreation Commission, introduced Mr. J. Campbell, Director of Recreation, who Submitted a statistical report regarding cost and location of swimming pools in the city. S Motion of Mr. Earl)- and seconded by Mr. Wentz, the informati6n be received with thanks and hold.item in obeyance until budget is finalized, was adopted by unanimous vote - NEW BUSINESS 74-195 read: The following letter received from Chairman of Planning Commission, was "At its regular monthly meeting on May , 1974, the City Planning Commission con- tinued its discussion of possible impact of military housing construction upon the City of Portsmouth.