Minutes 05/28/1968 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 28,, 1968 - NE~? BUSINESS - 68-173 - The following letter from Bengal, Bengal and Bangel was read: "In compliance with your request, I am writing this letter as President of the Portsmouth-Norfolk County Bar Association. The purpose of this letter is to aid you in fixing a fair salary to be paid to Judge Donald H. Sandie and Judge Leo P. Blair. At the outset, let it be noted that the Bar Association of this City is just as interested as you are in doing what is right and just for all the citizens of the City, including the Judges. There can be no dispute that we are indeed fortunate to have two well-qualified and devoted judges in Judge Sandie and B~air. Each day they devote long hours ~ fulfilling their position~ and they have brought credit~ honor and distinction to this City for the manner in which they adjudicate the cases before them. All recognize that Portsmouth has a limited budget, but we should agree that these two gentlemen s~p~ld not be grossly underpaid at the expense of their immediate families. Bot~ ~udges have children in college w~ich, needless to say, puts a tremendous strain upon making ends meet on the salaries they are presently receiving. Our Judges in Portsmouth work just as hard and long if not longer than the Judges in Norfolk. It is onl' fair that their salaries be comparabl~ In NorfOlk,they have at the present time five judges who have the same jurisdiction as Judges Sandie and Blair. The three senior judges receive each the sum of $21~560.00 a year, and the jun~Dr judges receive each the sum of $19,440.00 a year. When you contrast this with the SlUT of $15,100.00 that the Portsmouth Judges are presently being paid, the inequities are obviously appmrent. Should not the Judges in Portsmouth who work as diligently and put in full time be paid at least the same as the junior judges in Norfolk receive? Upon reflection, wa believe each of you will agree that the answer should be in the affirmative. Some of you may ask, "Does Norfolk overpay their judges in comparison with the other cities in this area?" The answer is, "Definitely not." Newport News judges of Courts not of record presently receive $19,850.00 a year with an anticipated increase in the very near future to $21,000.00 a year. ~f one of you should suggest that a comparison be made with Chesapeake, please permit me to say that the comparison would be unfair and ~njust. Even though Judge Cadmus of Chesapeake makes $15,500.00 a year, which is more than the Judges San~ie and Blair presently~a~e, it must be remembered that the workload is not as heavy, nor does it require Judge Cadanus to spend nearly as much time in Court. Let us not forget that Portsmouth has recently annexed part of Chesapeake. q~his will, logically, increase the workload of Portsmoutl judges and decrease the work!~ad if t~e judges in Chesapea]~e. The Bar Association of this City sincerely trust that each of you will see fit to pay our two dedicated judges of the Courts not of record in this City a salary at least comparable to what a junior judge receives in the City of Norfolk." Motion of Mr. Knight to refer to a conference of t~ Council in connection with budget matters, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-174 - The following ~atition, signed by Mr. and Mrs. Thos. H. Fuller, 515 Nansemond St., and others, was read: "We petition the City of Portsmouth to leave the alley described below, in its presen% condition with- out removing shrubbery, trees, fences, etc.~ or other appurtenances that may inadvertently have impinged on the alley during past years. The alley is wide enough now for automobiles and we have no need to widen it for trucks. The alley Ss situated parallel to and between the 5800 block On High Street and the 5~0 block on Nansemond Street with er~at Riverside Drive and Grayson Street. Of the eleven houses on lots backing up to the alley,,the following residents in the block support this petition to leave the alley in its present concition so the Department of Sanitation trucks will not have to use the narrow confines of its 10 feet width to make trash collections. The city can also save~money that would be used to clear the alley." Motion of Mr. Barnes to refer to a conference was lost land by the fo!lowing vote: Ayes: Barnes, Easteg, Knight Nays: Smith, Johnson, King Motion of Mr. King that the City ~anager be instructed to ppen the alley parallel to and between the 5800 block of High Street and the 500 block of Nansemond Street was adopted, without dissenting ~ote. 68-175 - The following letter from J. L. Myers, 1100 Sterling Point Drive, was read: "During the past several months I have been exploring with Seantor Spong the possibility of dredging a channel in Sterns Creek which is the body of watemr~hat now divides Portsmouth and Chesapeake to the west of Sterling Point Drive. My neighbors and t were most pleased to leal'n from Colonel SeideI through the Senator that: 1. A feasibility study could be made at the expense of the Federal Government if requested by y~u. 2. If t~ study is favorable, the Federal Government would ~kare with Portsmouth the cost of the dredging on a 50-50 basis. Inasmuch as the feasibility study would be made at no cost to Portsmouth, it would certainly be appreciated if you would initiate the necessary request to the local District Engineer of the Corps of Engineers under Section 107 of the Harbor and River Act of 1960. Information on the program is attache~ Once the feasibility study is completed, we wnuld decide on a future course of action. As you may know, a number of years ago the Creek was navigable. It would be one of the nicer spots for boating and water skiing if a channel were dredged.