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September 8th, 1964
<br />
<br />Mr.: Eastes r~ominated Marshall D. Owens, T. C; Mingis-~nd.J. ~ G~ifTin.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Knight nominations ~e~e~closed;.
<br />
<br /> Vote being tsken, Mr. Owens, Mr. Mingis were elected members of the Portsmouth Recreation Commiss-
<br />ion for s three year term, ending June 30th, .1967. Mr. Griffin was elected re the Recreation Commission ~epresenn-
<br />ina the School Board. His term expires June 30th, 1965.
<br />
<br /> 64-217 - Motion of ~. Knight to go into the election of a member Se the School Board, 5o fill the.
<br />vacancy caused by the death of E. C...Wr%ght, Jr.~ was adopte~. Regarding this the following communication from
<br />Park View' PTA was read:
<br />
<br /> "As yon requested a5 the board meeting of the Park View P T A, I am submitting names suggested
<br />by the members for your consideration zn selecting a new sehool board member ~o fill the vacancy crested by the
<br />death of Mr. Edwin C. Wright, Jr.
<br /> At this time, six names have been turned in. They: Mr. F M. Wilder, Jr., Mrs.
<br />Mr. John Sterling Davis, Mr. Vernon E. Wimbrough, Mrs. Clinton Mobley, and Mrs. James H Epperson.
<br />
<br />~r. Dillon nominated Vernon E. Wimbrough.
<br />
<br />F. M Wilder, Jr.,.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Knight, nominations were closed.
<br />
<br /> Vote being taken Mr. Wimbro~gh ~as ele~te{l a.~ember of the Portsmouth S~hool Bosrd fo~
<br />unexpired nerm of E. C. Wright, Jr., whose 5erm e~pi~es Onljune 30th, ~967.
<br />
<br />NEW BUSINESS
<br />
<br />64-232 - The following letner from H. M. Maxwell, was read:
<br />
<br /> "Unfortunately, well-intentioned projecns sometimes h:ave adverse side, effects. Such s situation
<br />exists in the case of.the miniature train in City Park.
<br /> The previously peaceful waterfront area adjoining City ~a~k ~as been plagued all summer by the
<br />consnsn5 tool-toot of 1 the whistle on the train, despite complain~ts b~Lm~mouaapeople and a~ least one Civic
<br />Association 5o the City Manager's Office, the City Council, the Police Department. and the Jsycees. Tru'e, after
<br />a phenomenal amount, o~ cslling, these complsints have resulted in a- ton.ina down,of the ~histle, but it is never-
<br />the less a fact that the whistle can still, be heard for.more ~lear~y mnd frequently by residents m mile o~r so
<br />away than by the passengers on the train itself
<br /> It is a vsriabLe nuisance, depending upo~ the direction of: the wind the inclination of the
<br />engineer, and the amoun5 of traffic
<br /> Progressive cities all over the counzr~,, recognizing the civic unattrsctiveness of unnecessary
<br />noise, have been enacting anti-noise ordinances In ~ew York City it is illegal .to blow an. automobile horn
<br />without good reason~ ~Ctose ~o home, the Norfolk City Council has even restricted the~ringing of.the bells by the
<br />cream vendors.
<br /> The area~ affeeted by Pokey Smokey's whistle is-zoned purely residential. It has been protected
<br />against no,se and change by buffer zones of waterways, and m recreetional park. ' Th~ addition of an amusemenm
<br />park type ride is.not~ in keeping~with ~suburban living and will certainly affect property values adversely.
<br /> In view of all of this, we feel it quite reasonable to toques5 the City Council to require the
<br />train to operate ~ithout the whistle..~ If sound effects ~re considered desirable the be.ll and clackey-clack of the
<br />whe~ls provide more than enough audio-atmosphere.
<br /> "~hat is s.trsin, without a whistle?" You may ask. But ask.yo:urselves roe, "Where is a relaxed
<br />home atmosphere with one?"
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Eastes this was referred 5o a conference of the Council.
<br />
<br /> 64-233 - "At its regualr monthly meeting on August 4, 1964, the City Planning Commission resolved
<br />to recommend than the following munlciaplly-owned property be declared surplus and disposed of at public
<br /> Beginning a5 the southeast corner of Williamsburg Avenue and North Street; thence ess5 slong
<br />North Street 125 feet; thence south approximately 105 feet; thence west approximately 125 feet; to Williamsburg
<br />Avenue; thence north along said avenue ~07.5 feet re the point of origin; Lots 61, 82, 83. and 84."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Barnes to concur in the recommendation of the Planning Commission and that the
<br />pmoperty be authorized for sale, was adopted without dissenting vote.
<br />
<br /> 64-234 - Report on Audit of the office of the City Treasurer by the Auditor of Public Accounts,
<br />Commonwealth of Virginia, was presented and on mo£ion of Mr. Eastes received as information.
<br />
<br /> ~64-236 - The following letter from the Planning Director regardir~ ~heoolo.~i!~£zGust~.Aane~was
<br /> read:
<br /> "At its regular monthly meeting on September 1, 1964, the City Planning Commission unanimously
<br />resolved re recommend ~eali~fiment of Gust Lane so as to 4ntersect Victory Boulevard at s right angle opposite the
<br />new fire station and 5o close Gust Lane from the point of this realignment to ii~ ~resent point of intersection
<br />with Victory Boulevard.
<br /> A sketch from the Department of Public Works .is attached here$o."
<br />
<br /> Motion .of ~r. Eastes that the ~P~o~e~e~lbsing.o£~a:-p6rtion-o~-:Gus~ Eane, ~n.~.order._±h~t;it can be
<br />re~aligned.~ith ~i~i~y Bo~le~md~ he~re~e~e~i~te-~he~Ci~y Attorney,-was adop~ed~ without dissenting vote.
<br />
<br />64-235- The following letter from the~Planning Director regarding
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