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January 12, 1999
<br />
<br /> At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, January 12, 1999, there
<br />were present:
<br />
<br />Mayor James W. Holley III, Vice Mayor Bernard D. Griffin, Sr., Cameron C. Pitts, P.
<br />Ward Robinett, Jr., J. Thomas Benn III, William E. Moody, Jr., Charles B. Whitehurst,
<br />Sr., City Manager Ronald W. Massie, City Attorney G. Timothy Oksman.
<br />
<br /> Councilman Charles B. Whitehurst, Sr. opened the meeting with prayer, which
<br />was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />
<br />Mayor Holley called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Mr. Pitts, and seconded by Mr. Griffin, to approve the minutes of a
<br />Called Meeting on December 8, 1998, and a Regular Meeting on December 8, 1998,
<br />and was adopted by unanimous vote.
<br />
<br />99-03 - Presentations:
<br />
<br />Adoption of a resolution honoring Jack Parker Barnes, former Mayor of the City of
<br />Portsmouth.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Mr. Robinett, and seconded by Mr. Benn, to adopt the following
<br />resolution, and was adopted by the following vote:
<br />
<br />"A RESOLUTION HONORING JACK PARKER BARNES FORMER MAYOR OF THE
<br />CITY OF PORTSMOUTH.
<br />
<br />Whereas, Jack Parker Barnes was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1920 and attended
<br />public schools in Norfolk and Southampton County; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, he was a graduate of the Leadership School of the United States Navy,
<br />the Instructor Leadership Institute of the University of Virginia, the Purdue University
<br />School of Insurance, and the Real Estate Institute; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, he came to Portsmouth at an early age, and his life thereafter became
<br />inextricably connected with the life of the City; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, he contributed to Portsmouth in many ways over a prolonged period of
<br />time, including service on Portsmouth City Council over a thirty-year period
<br />commencing in 1960 and continuing until 1990, service as Vice Mayor from 1962 to
<br />1968, and service as Mayor from 1968 to 1974; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, his vision for Portsmouth changed the entire face of the city, including the
<br />following major initiatives: redevelopment of the entire downtown area to replace a
<br />collection of run-down bars, tattoo parlors, and rotting piers and warehouses with the
<br />present Seawall, the Civic Center, City Hall, attractive streets and walkways, and
<br />modern office and apartment buildings and shops; being at the very forefront of
<br />preservation and restoration of the city's historic Olde Towne area through the active
<br />pursuit and wise investment of federal grants; direct election of the Mayor by the
<br />people; creation of the Pokey Smokey Railroad at City Park; creation of the Miss
<br />Portsmouth Pageant as a qualifying event for the Miss America Pageant; obtaining
<br />#1 High Street for the City from the Seaboard Airline Railroad Company; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, his philosophy of public service was that the citizens of Portsmouth always
<br />come first, and that government exists to serve the people and to better their lives,
<br />and he lived out this philosophy through his patience, his kindness, his compassion,
<br />and his constant willingness to listen to citizens and to act on their legitimate
<br />concerns; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, he was also a strong supporter of city employees, who were always
<br />important to him, and in whose honor he helped establish the Employee of the Year
<br />Award, a tradition which still continues; and
<br />
<br />Whereas, his endeavors on behalf of Portsmouth were not limited to his service on
<br />City Council but also included helping to found the Merrimac Kiwanis Club, the
<br />Portsmouth Jaycees, the Portsmouth Sports Club, and Elizabeth Manor Golf and
<br />Country Club; and
<br />
<br />
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