Minutes 05/28/1968 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 28~ 1968 Motion of Mr. Eastes to refer to the City Attorney was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-181 - The following letter from Benjamin A. Haddon, Chairman~ Portsmouth-Dunedin ~ivic Understanding Commission, was read: "%"he following is pertinent information concerning a Head-of-State visit to this city. In accordance with information received from the United States Deoartment of State we can expect a visit of several days from His Worship The Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand, Mr. Russell John Calvert, J.P. The visit will take place during the last week in June, the exact dates haven't been set as yet even ~ . though I have been in constant communication with Mr. Louis V. Lehtonen, Director for International Exchange for the Department of State. Mayor Calvert is being sponsored hhre by Secretary Dean Rusk to study redevelopment and urban renewal in the U. S. ~ As you can see by the attached biographical notes sent by the New Zealand Government to our Department of State that Mayor Calvert has made a point on visiting his sister city of Portsmouth, Virginia. Mayor Calvert is at the moment, a~t of the West German Government. It might be a note of interest that according to information from Washington, Mayor Calvert's visi~ here will mark him as the fifth head of a foreign city to visit a sister city since the inception of the progra~ in 1956. At the present time no firm program for the visit has been established but several contacts have been made to begin formulation of a program of dignity and interest to the visitor. I would strongly suggest that members of City Council be involved and concerned with the pending visit realizing the tremendous ~mount of international p~olicity involved as well as national recognition of the visit. The United States Information Agency as well as other governmental departments will be on hand to witness some of the activity of the visit. I have discussed the planning phase with J. Brewer Moore and the Urban renewal phase briefly with Carroll Mason. Both have portrayed great interest. A reception for the Mayor is b~ing discussed by the Chamber of Commerce and dedication programs are being arranged. Also a wreath laying ceremony at the MacArthur Tomb. The latter being highly recommended by the representative of theDeoartment of State. As soon as we finalize his arrival time and length of stay the members of the Civic. Understanding CommissiOn will inform members of Council and will have a completed pr¢gram to present for approval. P.S. This date, May 24, I received a telephone call from the Department of State confirming visit of the Lord Mayor Calvert that he will arrive on jUne 24 and be in Portsmouth through June 27. The Council will be informed exact time of arrival. ~ The above information telephoned by Mr. Haddon." Motion of Mr. King that the letter be acknowledged, stating that the City will be glad to do what it can to welcome the Mayor of Dunedin and entertain him while he is here, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-182 - The following letter from Rev. H. Edward !%~itaker, President, Portsmouth Area Council on H2man Relations was read: "Request is hereby made, on behalf of the Portsmouth Area, Human Relations Council, for ~ermission to address the Portsmouth City Council in its next regular session on May 28, 1968, on the subject~ "The Food St~mp Program". It appears to us, the members of the Human Relations Council, that there is undue delay in enacting the necessary provisions to establish this program. It also appears that there are many persons, as well as the city in general, who may stand to benefit from this program. Your favorable response to this request will be deeply appreciated." Motion of Mr. King to suspend the rules to hear Mr. ,~,faitaker was adopted. Mr. li~itaker spoke regarding the Food Stamp progmam. Motion of ,fr. Johnson to refer to the budget study conference was adopted, without dissenting ~ote. 68-185 - The following letter from J. P. C. Hanbury, of Williams and Tazewell ~ Associates was read: "As you know, in March of 1967, the State Landmarks Commission referring to the Court House building ad- vised the Portsmouth Historical Association thusly: ~It gives me pleasure to tell you that at its recent meeting the Commission emphatically supported your efforts to pmeserve the 1848 Court House. It was the Commission's feeling that the building was of archi- tectural significance and that its park-like setting was of particular enhancement to the City of Portsmouth.' The Association's efforts continue. At its anmml meeting the Association approved on motion a proposal to retain an architectural historian to make extensive investigations of the building sufficient to prepare measured drawings of the existing structure. It was felt that no intelligent recommendations could be advanced by the Association for the building retention and preservation without some idea of the physical properties of the buildin~ in terms of plan area, vol~e, and condition. It is hoped that this endeavor and expense of the Association will be of benefit to th~ City and that th~ Association may be assured of your continued interest in our effort to save this fine old structure.