Minutes 04/09/1968 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A'wr'~ 1 g. lq6~ . - NEW BUSINESS 68-132 - The following letter from the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Ira C. Early, Legislative Representative, was read: "I would like to have the opportunity to appear on Tuesday night, April gq 1968 to bring before the Council the matter of the Southern Railroad petitioning the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon their yard at Pinners Point and terminating service B~tween Portsmouth, Virginia dnd Selma, North Carolina," Motion of Mr. King to suspend the rules to hear Mr. Early was adopted. Mr. Early spoke, reouesting~ the Council to take action opposing the oetition~ of the Southerm~Rallroad.' Motion of Mr. Barnes that the Cmmcil take appropriate action for representation at the hearing and that a resolution be prepared requesting the Southern Railroad to withdraw the petition, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-155 - The following letter from the Superintendent of SchoOls was read: "The School Board at its regular Mareh meeting adonted resolutions requesting the City Council to appropriate funds to defray the costs of the following: Additional classrooms to relieve overcrowding and to eliminate shifts Brighton Elementary - 8 Rooms Hodges Manor Elementary - 6 Rooms Estimated Cost Equipment Architect's ~ee $280~000 28,000 16,800 III.Four (4) portables to eliminate shifts at James Hurst Elementary School Estimated nurchase price and installment costs $ 60,000 III. Architect's fee for Merrifields Intermediate School (2/1/68-6/30/68) IV. Textbooks and library books for Churchland Academy, Churchland Elementary and Churchland High School V. ~fls~cal ~nstr~z~ents for am~exed schools TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $ 97,000 $128,000 $ 42,000 $6S1,000 These improvements are urgently needed before the opening of the 1968-69 school session." Motion of Mr. Knight to refer to a conference of the Council with the School Board was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-154 - The following letter from William H. VanDyck was read: "In August 1966, I wrote a letter to the City Manager requesting that the service alley between the 3800 block of High Street and Nansemond Street be ooened for vehicular traffic and garbage collection. ! cited the reasons therefor as being the danger involved in backing an automobile out of the driveway onto High Street [U.S. Highway 17), the danger involved by City employees picking up garbage on this very heavily traveled U. S. Highway, and the eyesore involved in having garbage containers placed twice weekly on High Street, which is one of the main approaches into our City. I also stated that to the bestopf ~ knowledge, the 5800 block of High Street is the only block in the Waterview section of Portsmouth where the garbage is collected on the street and not in the service alley. I am enclosing a copy of the letter which I received in reply from the City Manager which is self explanatory. To-date ali that has been accomolished is the placing of some crushed rock in the service alley. The service alley is not yet ooened fully for ~ehicular traffic and garbage collection. I would appreciate your taking any action you m~y/ choose to eliminate the above mentioned dangerous situations and eyesore. I would also aopreciate your advising me as to the action taken." ~otion of Hr. Barnes to refer to the City Manager for study and report back was adopted, without dissenting vote. The City Manager stated that it is impossible to lead packers for use in this alley because of croachments such as poles, trees and a garage. 68-135 - The following letter from Raymond L. Tweed was read: "It has been brought to my attention that there will be an opening for a Justice of the Peace. We would like to recommend that you give consideration, if and when this o~ening should occur, to Mrs. Hilda C. Watson, 1019 C~ntre Avenue, Portsmouth, Virginia. Mrs. Watson has~been a member of the Democratic Executive Committee for a number of years and has been a loyal and faithful Democrat as well To my knowledge, this is the first time that we have ever requested an appointment of this type from this Committee, and we would certainly appreciate any consideration given."