Minutes 02/10/1970 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Feh-~m'vv 10. At a regular meeting of the City Council, held on February 10, 1969, there were present: Jack P. Barnes, George D. Hastes, James W. Holley, Burrell R. Johnson, Isaac W. King, R. Irvine Smith, Raymond Turner, A. P. ~bbnson, Jr., City Manager, and M. A. Korb, Jr., City. Attorney. The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. King. Minutes of resular meeting held on Janual-f 27, 1970 were read and approved. The following reports from the City Manager were read: 70-52 - "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend it be placed on first reading. This appropriates $815.00 for the City of Portsmouth's oro-rata share of the cost of defending an appeal before the Spprpme Court of Appeals of Virginia on the decisio~ of the State Co~ooration Commission concerning the assessment of taxes against the railroads in ~zrglnla. The State Corporation Commission sustained the position of the localities in the suit ~here the railroads were seeking a reduction in their real estate assessments. The railroads are appealing this case to the Supreme Court of A~peals as it is felt by the jurisdiction that have participated for the State Corporation Commission that they should continue in the appeal before the Supreme Court. The assessment for $415.00 covers this appeal as equal to the one-half of the amount the City of Portsmouth appropriated for the case before the State Corporation Commission." On motion of Mr. King, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $415.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND AS THE CITY'S SHARE OF THE COST OF PARTICIPATION IN THE APPEAL OF THE RAILROAD ASSESSMENT CASE." 70-55 - "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend it be places on first reading. This appropriates $S,519.00 for the purchase of b~s for the Portsmouth Public Libmary. This appropriation r~Fesents the funds that have been received from the State and Federal government for the purchase of library books. The appropriation of these funds will allow the library to expend the funds for which they were received." On motion of Mr. Smith, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $5,519.00 FOR THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS FOR THE PORTSMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY." 70-54 - "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend it be placed on first reading. This ordinance appropriates $18,351.0~ from the General Fund to increase the benefits paid to retired City employees. This is the amount of money needed to increase the benefits through June 50, 1970. It ~npropriates $3,981.00 for those employees retired before the commencement of the two retirement systems; $11,670.00 is apprpp~iated for firemen mud policemen; and $2,700.00 for other City employees. The new pension benefits have been computed by the actuaries an~ will be effective March 1, 1970. The actuaries have also been requested to re-evaluate the present system ~nd a future cost of fl]ese increases will be incorporated in the budget for the fiscal year, 1970-71 under the contribution by the City to the two retirement systems." On motion of Mr. Johnson, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $18,551.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS PAID TO RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEES." 70-55 - "I submit the attached ordinamce and recommend it be placed on first reading. This appropriates $57,972.00 to cover expenditures for the new Department of Engineering through June 30, 1970. These fends will cover the salaries for the engineers and inspect6~'~in this dep~rtment. They will also cover necessary supplies and equipment for the operation of the department." On motion of Mr. King, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $37,972.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR." 70-56 - "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend it be placed on first reading. This app~ppriates $8,700.00 for the Traffic Engineering Bureau. %he funds are to be used for the purchase of traffic signal heads, paint for the marking of streets, and also to provide funds for the installation of the proper "no left" turn signals at the intersedtions of High and Washington Streets, and High and Courts Streets. N~ch confusion exists at Washington Street as the restriction is from 6:00 A.M. to 6:0D~.M. rather from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 ~,M. as is the atandard. These highly readable electrical signs will only be visible durin~ the hours that the restriction is actually in effect. It is necessa~, to provide the same type of sign at Court Street as the neon signs will not be visible when the signals are ~earranged to bring them up to standards. Thirty-two Hundred Dollars is required to purchase new traffic signal heads for two signals per approach at the intersections on High Street from Green Street to Crm~;ford Street. This type of installation has al- ready been made at the intersections of Chestnut and High Street and Hffingham and High Streets. This will me~ the standards established by the Federal Bureau of Highways by providing two separate signal heads for each traffic movement. The balance of the funds will be used to purchase traffic paint, glass beads and related items that have been bought in July with delivery being made in September or October. The painting season being over with at this time, very little traffic painting can be done due to the weather condit~emsf By purchasing the paint at this time and doing the work during the earlier summer months, the painting will last a substantially longe~ period of time." On motion of Mr. Smith, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "Mq ORDINAb~ZH TO APPROPRIATE $8,700.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF PAINT AND TRAFFIC EQUIPmeNT FOR THE BUREAU OF ~RAFFIC ENGINEERING."