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At a regular City Council meeting held on November 9, 1971, in ~the City-Council
<br />Chambers, there were present:
<br />
<br /> Jack P. Barnes, James W. Holley, Burrell R. Johnson, Isaac W. King, R. Irvine Smith,
<br /> Raymond B. Smith, Raymond Turner, A. P. Johnson, Jr., City Manager, ~, A. Kerb, Jr.,
<br /> City Attorney, and W. J. O'Brien, Jr., Assistant City Attorney.
<br />
<br />Prayer was offered by Councilman Isaac W. King.
<br />
<br />Mayor Barnes extended a welcome to all visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr.
<br />reading of the minutes
<br />sented, was adopted by
<br />
<br />Irvine Smith and seconded by Mr. Ray~ond Smith to dispense with the
<br />of the meeting held on October 26, 1971, and to approve same as pre-
<br />unanimous vote.
<br />
<br /> ~R~475 - On motion of Mr. Irvine Smith a'nd seconded by Mr. -~u~r~er% item 71-475 to be
<br />considered as the first item of business by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Holley, Johnson, King, Irvine Smith, Raymond Smith, Turner, Barnes
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br />The following individuals spoke in order of their appearance:
<br />
<br />Mr. David Muckle*, representing Health, Welfare and Recreation Planning Council of
<br />Portsmouth.(P~o)
<br />
<br />Mr. Andrew Heatwole, representing PatioT~Townhouses, Inc.(Con)
<br />Mrs. Helen H. Jones, Chairman, Southside Coalition.(Pro)
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Rachel Benzie, representing the Portsmouth Board of Realtors, offered the following
<br />recommendations:
<br />
<br />"THE PORTSMOUTH BOARD OF REALTORS WISH TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE COUNCIL THAT:
<br />PRINCIPLE WE ENDORSE THE PROPOSED ~R~I.BAN. CE ON MINIMUM HOUSING.
<br />
<br />IN
<br />
<br /> We wish to commend the committee who prepard this erdinance. We are in favor of clear-
<br />ing our City of blight and will werk with the Ci~ to accomplish this end. However, the Board
<br />of Realtors, after careful study, feel there are some modifications necessary to the proposed
<br />ordinance to make it a workable tool and effective throughout the City.
<br />
<br /> As you and I know it is impossible to make any law that the inn.oe~nt does not suffer wit
<br />the guilty-- or the good will suffer because of the bad. It is also difficult to have the
<br />approval of 100% but wez~,must work to the good 6f the majority. We ask you to listen and con-
<br />sider carefully the following recommendations by the Board of Realtors. You have before you
<br />a copy.
<br />
<br />PROPOSAL BY THE PORTSMOUTH BOARD OF REALTORS
<br />
<br />Section 4-5
<br />
<br />Article 1,2,3,5 & 6 Approval
<br />Article 4 WE ask that you add: Such facilities shall
<br />either the owner or the occupant of said dwelling unit.
<br />
<br />be provided by
<br />
<br />Section 4-6 Approval
<br />
<br />Section 4-7
<br />
<br />Add: However, cancellation of lease is to be initiated by governing
<br />authority only in the event dwelling is considered unfit for human habi-
<br />tation by the Department of Public Health and not in the case of minor
<br />infractions or violation not affecting health of the occupant.
<br />
<br />Section 4-8 Approval
<br />
<br />Section 4-9
<br />
<br />Delete the words: Immediately prior to occupancy and the word determined.
<br />Add: At least annually and shall have been reinspected as often as
<br />necessary. The article will then read: No owner, agent or person in
<br />charge of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall allow any person et occupy the
<br />same as a tenant ~r lessee or for a valuable consideration unless said
<br />dwelling or dwelling unit shall have been inspected annually and shall have
<br />been reinspected as often as necessary to be ~n compliance with the pro-
<br />visions of the Southern Standard Housing Code, 1969 Edition, as adopted
<br />by reference in Section 4-5 of this code. Such compliance shall be evidence
<br />by a certificate of Compliance issued by the director of public health.
<br />
<br /> The following letter received from Mr. Larry Schmidt, President, Health, Welfare and
<br />R~creation Planning Council, was read:
<br />
<br /> "This is to register our Council's interest in and support for the proposed up-dating
<br />of the city housing code and the amendment of the city cede to provide for the inspection and
<br />certification of rental dwellings and for the registration of vacant or unoccupied buildings.
<br />
<br /> Mr. David L. Muckle, Vice President of our Council, is planning to be present at the
<br />public hearing to evidence our concern for the ho~sing situation and our endorsement of the
<br />posed amendments as a step in the right direction.~'
<br />
<br />
<br />
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