Minutes 01/22/1963 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jam~ ~2nd, ]9S3 If I can be of any service in the f~ture, please do not hesitate co call on me." Motion of Mr. Knight that the resignation be accepted with regrets and acknowledgment with thanks for Mr. Russell's services on the School Board, and that the matter of the election of his successor be referred to a conference of the Council, was adopted without dissenting ~ote. 63-18 - The following communication from the Chamber of Commerce was read: "In a.je~rer dated September 1t, 1962, the Chamber of Commerce-recommended that the Minimum Sousing Code of the City o! Portsmouth be amended ~o cope with those problems that cause blight and deterioration and that the amended code be strickly enforced. The Public Affairs Con~ittee of the Chamber of Commerce, together with representatives from the various civic leagues, reviewed the proposed new housing code with the City Planner and Director of Public Health. Two meetings were held by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and the above mentioned officials at which time the proposed housing code was reviewed. Both the Public Affairs Committee and the Executive Committee voted unanimously in favor of the new proposed housing cede. The Chamber of Conmlerce urgently recommends the early approval and implementation of the new Minimum Housing Code as proposed by the City Planning Commission." Motion of Mr. Eastes that the letter be received and acknowledged with thanks, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 63-19 - The following communication from the Chamber of Commerce was read: "The Education Committee 'of the.Chamber' of ,Commerce has been studying the need for a Vocational-Technical school in Portsmouth. Representatives from this committee appeared before the State Committee on Vocational Education. A copy of the presentation ro this Committee is enclosed. It~is apparen5 to the Chamber that a Vocations'l-Technical school is aeeded now to provide technic.ally trained people for our growing industry as well as to provid~ technical training 5o our young people to permit them ~o take their proper place in industry. In a recen5 meeting the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of establishing such a school in the Portsmouth area. The Chamber of Commerce urgently reqaests the City Cduhc~l ro initiate a study for the establishment of s Vocational-Technical school in the Portsmouth area at the earliest practicable date." Motion of Mr. Dillon that the letter he received and acknowledged, and that the ma~ter be referred mo the City M~n~ge~ for consideration, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 63-20 - A reques~ from the Commissioner of Revenue for a refund in the amoun~ of $10.45 ro Ben Davi~, for erroneous assessment of personal property, was presented and on motion of Mr. Dillon, approved on first reading, without dissenting vote. 63-21 - The following communication from the West Side Civic. League was read: "It is the opinion of this league that your honorable body again violated Chapter 3 Section 19 of the City Charter by appointing a member of Council, Mayor R. Irvine Smith, mo be on the Southeastern Regional Commission. We call your attention to Atsorne~ General Robert Y. Button's opinion dated September 10, 1962, which stares in parr: ~9 member of the Council shall be ~igible, during his tenure of office as such member, or for one yenr~ thereafter, ro any office to be filled' by the council, by election or by appointment." Acts-of Assembly of 1908, Chap. t57, Sec. 19. "~his section of the City Charter alone, without regard to other.provisions of law, in. my opinmon~ wou~d prevent a member of council of the Cit~ of Portsmouth from serving as a member of the Tidewater Airport Commission under an election as such by the council of which he is a member." I~ ~s felt that this appointment of Mayor Smith to the Southeastern regional Commission parallels the appointment that Attorney Genera] Button has already rendered an opinion on. Since such appointments are in violation of the City Charter:it would seem that no member of council should hold or accep~ an appointment knowing it is in violation. This league is of the opinion that there are ~a~y qualified citizens who are not connected with the municipal government who could serve on this Commission." In this~-connection the Mayor read the following s~atement, which he requested be included in the minutes: "Without objection, I request the personal privilege of having the following statement spread upon the minutes of this meeting: The letter of January 16, 1963, from Mr. Louis H. Keller, Corresponding Secretary of West Side Civic League~ does not come as-a surprise. The.question of Portsmouth City Council electing or appointing one of its members to an office has been an on and off political issue for ma~y ~ears. I am not unmindful of the opinion of the Attorney General referred to by Mr. Keller. I have the greatest respect fo~ ~. Button, having served on the local committee working for his election. However, his rulings are nor law. Attorneys general and even judges from time ro time form erroneous opinions. I accepted the election to the Southeastern Regional Planning ~ommlssion with the hope that Mr. Keller's group would challenge the validity of my election. This is an issue~of great importance throughout the State and I w~nr ~o help settle it.fi~a$!~ and completely, one wa]- or the other. The issue is hot whether I am ro serve on the Cqmmission, but w~e~ the services of many councilme~_~hroughout the State will be denied to such groups as SoutheasEern Regional Planning Commission. I am np~ the only city councilman serving, on this Commission. The records of this council will show that my predecessor in the office of Mayor was elected or appointed by this council 5o a~ least three offices while he was Msyor~ yet, Mr. Keller's eb~ections were no~ heard on those occasions. If Mr. Keller and his group are really, desirous of rendering public service, they will take this issue before the only forum with the power and duty~to settle it-namely-a eourt of law. The 0nly way I could raise the issue was to accept the election and await their pleasure. May the right side prevail, and the losing side console itself by knoP~ing that future argumen5 on this subject will nor .be necessary." Motion of Mr. Knight that the letter be recorded and received as information, was adopted, without dissenting vote.