Minutes 02/26/1963 - Laserfiche WebLink

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We respectfully submit that Mr. Smith's membership in this cormmission is in continued violation of the Portsmouth City Charter. We further submit that, as elected representatives, it is the duty of all Councilmen to adhere to the spirit and letter of the laws they themselves have enacted. To ignore this premise is to flirt with despotism. We trust the Council will have the good judgment to obviate the need for further action by removing Mr. Smith from the Southeastern.Virginia Regional Planning Commlsszon. 63-52 - The following communication from West Side Civic League was read: "Newspaper accounts indicate thai a maintenance department for the Recreation Department is in the planning stage. This league believes that creating an additional department ls not economically sound. Wherever possible, elimination ofduplicate facilities should be the policy of sound fiscal government. Creating this new department will further enlarge the duplicity that now exists. We hope you gentlemen will examine the necessity of bureauratic expansion. We suggest that as you plan the Budget for fiscal 1963-64, consideration be given Lo consolidation of existing departments. We suggest that the Department of Building and Grounds under Mr. Harry Phelps encompass the existing departments of ~arkways and Forrestry, Plant Operation and.~tant Maintenance for the Public School System. All of these departments are compatible and would provide such services as needed by the Recreation Department. ...... There are many advantages in a unified Maintenance Department beneficial to the City. Three or more departments providing similar services require duplication of tools and equipment. Unification would minimize this and allow wider use of facilities. Surplus material left over from one job would be available for use on a wider variety of jobs. The large labor force existing under a consolidated department would allow the department head more flexibility to meet the needs of the City under varying circumstances. We hope~that before creating another department Council will carefully consider economics and study consolidation ss a mesns of providing adequate service at .s minimum cost." Motion of Mr. Knight that the City Clerk be directed to thank the League for their suggestions and that the communication be referred to the City Manager for a report, was adopted, without dissenting vote. .-,. 63-53 - It:.is respectfull~ requested fhat the rules of the Council be suspended at the February 26, 1963, regular Council meeting in order that a committee from the West Side Civic League may be heard." (Signed: Louis H. Keller, West Side Civic League) The Chair read the following from the City Code: in writing, "Section 224 - REQUESTS FOR PER~ISSI,ON TO ADDRESS COUNCIL. All requests for permission ro address the Council .shall be preceded by a communication stating the purpose of such request, and shall come up in regular order. Motion of Mr. Eastes that inasmuch as the communication does not state the purpose, the request to be heard be denied, was adopted without dissenting vote. 63-54 - Motion of Mr. Barnes ro go into the election of a member of the School Board from the Third District, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. B. Russell, was adopted. Mr. Bartles nominated Leslie L. Frye, Jr., 2008 Charleston Avenue. On motion of Mr, Knight, nominations were closed. Vote being taken, Mr. Frye was unanimously elected to the School Board, District, for the unexpired, term of C. B. Russell, which term expires June 30th, 1963. from Third On motion adjourned. City Clerk President