Minutes 02/13/1968 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 13, 1968 68-41 - The following letter from Mrs. Lo~ise Copeland was read: "On behalf of the many Portsmouth residents interested in the Federal Food Stamp Program, I would like to make a brief statement at th~ February I$ city Council meeting. Please include this in th~ agenda February iS, 1968." ~otion of Mr. Knight to suspend the rules to hear from Mrs. Coneland' was adopted. Mrs. Coveland spoke and presented the following communication: "Honorable Mayor Smith, Councilmen, and honored guests, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity to come before you tonight, to review the Federal Food Stamp Program. Last summer, June~1967, a petition containing 1S00 signatures was submitted to the City Manager showing that many people are interested in fdod stamps. But who would benefit from the Federal Food Stam~ Program? First, 3S% of the neople of Portsmouth are considered low income, thus a large number of needle will benefit from the program. Also, I would like to speak, about the people of the newly annexed area. Before annexation, these people were promised all services they received in Chesapeake. However, this vromise was broken because the residents of the newly annexed area no longer receive food stamps. Another thing to consider is the cost of the program, that is the cost to the city, since the city must pay the administration costs. The thing to consider is this, when more money is void for food, the city will receive more money from food tax, and in turn the city can use thi~ increase in tax revenue to pay for the administration costs of the food stamp program. The burden on the City of Portsmouth can not be a great burden. But is the program successful? Do we know that the program will benefit people? We have only to look at Portsmouth's sister cities, The food stamp program is now successfully operating in both Chesameake and Norfolk. And soon Virginia Beach will come into the food stamp program. Can you very Honorable Gentlemen tell us why Portsmouth is not in the food stamp program? Another asnect to consider concerns Mode] Cities. We feel that Mr. Irwin Fischell and other HUD officials would be favorably impressed if the city of Portsmouth would come into the food stamp program. This would show that the city is sincerely interested in the welfare of all citizens and is deeply interested in Federal Programs. Obviaualy, the city of Portsmouth wo~Id have a better chance of becoming a model city, as it justly deserves, if participation in the Food Stamp Program is under way. We know for certain the Portsmouth City Fathers want ~o Darticinate in this vrogram, a program designed to share ~merica's agricultural abundance and designed to safeguard the ~ealth of low income families throufn better nutrition, Therefor we are asking you very honorable gentlemen, will Portsmouth come into the Food Stamp Program? We feel it would be only appropriate for Portsmouth to apply ~or Food Stamps before Anrit first. Again we ask when! I thank you." Motion of Mr. ~ohnson to ze~er to a conference of Council for consideration was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-42 - The following application for Justice of Peace was read: (~. B. Goodw~n) "Please accept this as a formal application to the City Council, for a~ointment as a Justice of the Peace for the City 6f Portsmouth. I have been a resident of the W~stern Branch Section, recently annexed by Portsmouth, for the past seventeen Years.'' Motion of Mr. Barnes to refer to a conference of Council was adopted, without dissenting vote. 68-43 - The following letter from Mrs. O. L. Carrett and Mr. A. Garrett was read: "On January 51, 1968 at 4:20 p.m. the Community Bus driver (Cavalier Manor bus #215 West bus) charged Bartha Garrett fifty cents (.50) instead of twenty-fi~e cents (.25). It was also stated that he took at least six bus punches from another student to board ~e hhs. Mr~.S~ewart'was called to register this complaint but he hollered on the phone and was unwilling to listen; It was stated by the bus driver that he was suppose to take at least two (2) school 9unches or charge fifty cents (.50) per student if they are late catching the bus. I would like to know wh~t is late and when did this rule become effective. These students g9 to Wilson High School and there is no bus running from Wilson High School and there is no bus ru_nning from Wilson to Cavalier Manor, consequently these §tudents have to transfer at High and Effihgham Streets. This incident happened at High and Effingham Streets. The driver would not accept a legitimate transfer, We are registered voters and are members of the United Civic League but we do not represent any interest groups. We are asking for an investigation into this matter since the city regulates all matters concerning bus fare." The following letter from the Community MotorBus Company, A. V. Stewart, Superintendent of Transportation, was read: "This is in reference to your letter of February S, 1968 regarding a letter you received from a Mrs. O. L. Garrett and a Mr. A. Garrett who reside at 1414 Ekstine Drive, Portsmouth, Virginia, conce.~ning their child, ~a~tha Garrett, being charged 50¢ instead of 25¢on one of our buses. I did receive a phone call from both of these people. I do not recall the date~ but bo~h of them were talking at the same time. ~ was trying to get them to call me concerning the matter the next day. They asked me what time I would be in and I told them at 4:40 A.M. which I had to repeat several times. Then he said~to me, 'Don't holler at me.' I told him I was not hollering at him, I was just trying to get him to understand. Then he told me he was going to sue me and hung up. ;In a few minutes a lady called me whom I presumed was Mrs. Garrett and she was settled enough to tell me what had happened to her child going home from school. I tried to explain to Mrs. Garrett that I was working by myself on this late afternoon due to sickness among the office force and asked her if she would call me the next day so I could fully explain to her our transportation facilities from Woodrow Wilson High School to her home in Cavalier Manor. I told her she could call me at any time