Minutes 01/24/1967 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 24, 1967 67-17 - "I submit the attached agreement between the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company and the City of Portsmouth and recommend that the proper City Officials be authorized to sign. We have curbed and guttered a nortion of Rodman A~'enue w~ere it crosses the Seaboard Air Line Railroad tracks. ~e street has been widened, and it is necessary that the railroad crossing be imoroved to conform with the widening of the street. It is necessary that this agreement be executed in order that this can be accomplished." Motion of Mr, Barnes to concur in the Manager's recommendation was adopted, without dissenting vote. 67-1B -"I submit the attached letter from the Electoral Board requesting a change in the polling .place for Wilson ~ard #2 Voting Precinct. It is necessary that this be advertised for thirty days. I, therefore, recommend that this be referred to the City Attorney." gETTER "%he Electoral Board has been offered and wishes to accept the use of the Scout Cabin, belonging to the West End Methodist ~urch, as a polling place for Wilson #2 Voting Precinct. This building is on the lot opposite the Church, designated as $6~7 Winchester Drive, at its intersection with Rodman Avenue. The location is not too far distant from the present polling place at the Grove Park Fire Station. The Electoral Board feels that this location is well suited for a polling plice. The building is well equipped as to the comfort of the poll officials and voters, as well as having a large parking lot adjacent thereto. Please present this request to the City Council for its approval." Motion of Mr. Eastes to concur in the recommendation of the City Manager was adopted. 67-19 - "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend that it be placed on first rea~ing. This amends Section 57A-44 and repeals Section 37A-45 of the City Code pertaining to water and fire ~rotection. This will eliminate the service charges for fire protection meters. Previotm to adopting the ordinance~ we did not have such a charge for fire prote,ction meters. It appears that there are some iniquitiesfin the established charge; therefore, I am requesting that these sections be repealed at this time and that further study be made." Motion of Mr. Kffight to suspend the rules to hear from interested persons was adopted. Mr. George Birdsong, Attorney, presented the following: "WE, The undersigned, being businesses and industries in-the Suffotk-Nansemond areaddo hereby formally object to and go on record as opposing the recent Portsmouth ordinance (S 37A-45) imposing fire meter service charges. Our reasons are as follows: 1. That each individual property owner paid for the meter, its installation and pays for the maintmnance of same. 2. Thit no service is rendered by the Portsmouth Water Department other than the reserve supply of 3~ That the business and industries affected by this charge are among your largest consumers of 4. That businesses undertake additional expense and investment to pro~ide sprinkler systems in order to obtain lower insurance rates, and that in many instances this service charge cancels from a financial standpoint thC benefit a business obtains from having a sprinkler system. This is especially true when maintenance on the sprinkler systems and interest on the installation investment are considered. 5. That public policy should encourage the installation of fire protection meters and sorinkler systems rather than discourage them. It is our opinion thaththis fire meter service charge is against the pff~li¢ interest and we urge you to cancel the ordinance i~oosing said charges." George Ewell, of Planters Manufacturing Company, spoke. On motion of Mr, Knight, theffollowing ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "AN ORDINJ.NCE TO AbfEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTS~DIFFH-, VIRGINIA, 1961, BY ~'*fl~NDING SECTION 57A-44 AND BY REPEALING S7A-45 THEREOF, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THERE SHALL BE NC READY TO SERVE CMARGE IMPOSED FOR FIRE PROTECTION WATER SERVICE." -UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 67-1 - The following ordinance, approved on first reading a~ last meeting, was taken up and read: "AN ORDIN;~CB TO APPROPRIATE $425.00 FROM ~,{B GENERAL CAPITAL IMPROVE~NT FUND FOR IHB PURCHASE OF LOT 119, JACKSON AVENUE IN PINNERS POINT" On motion of ~r. Jo~mson, the ordinance was adopted, and by the following vote: Ayes: Smith, Barnes, Hastes, Johnson, King, Knight Nays: None