Minutes 01/22/1963 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 22nd, 1963 63-22 - The following communication from the West Side. Civic League was read: "On Augus~ 5, 1960 a letter of complaint about high crowns on 3800 block of Kingman Avenue, 2000 block of Colorado Avenue and on Utal St. was sent to Mr. F. J. Bergeron, Director Public Works. These streets were never properly graded after the curbs and gutters were installed. In this letter we asked that Mr. Bergeron visit this area and meet with our committee in order that we might show and explain to him the cause of our complaint. Mr. Hilton, City Engineer, did meet with our committee and was shown the existing conditions and was informed of the ,reasons why we had made this complaint. After a reasonable time had elapsed and we had not been given any satisfactory answer as to when this work would be started we wrote to Mr. A. P. Johnson, City Manager, on December 5, 1960 again requestin~ that the high crowns on these streets be corrected. On March 23, 1960 another.letter was sent the City Manager concerning this matter. The high crown on Colorado Ave. was eventually cu5 down, but this street has never been properly graded or surfaced. There are numerous holes in the 2000'block of Colorado Ave. in the area that motor vehicles travel upon. To our knowledge there were also several o{her letters of complaint about the holes in the 2000 block of Colorado Ave. sent to the City Manager from tax payers on this street. Approximately two and one half years have elapsed since our first complaint yet these streets are still in s very unsatisfactory condition. There are other streets in the boundaries of this league that are in a similar condition, but to our knowledge those we have mentioned are the worss. We-feel that to continue placing tar and gravel surface on these streets is a complete waste of tax payers money. They should be black topped. Taxes have steadily increased an~ services steadily decreased in this area since annexation in 1948. We feel that with this lares5 real estate ~ax increase'right on the heels of a water rate increase last year, which meant a higher utility tax on water plus s higher sewerage utility tsx which is another added burden on the tax payers. With all this increase in revenue received.there is no excuse for the city to continue neglecting Kingman~Heights, Grove Park, and Westhaven. We do not expect to receive "SOMETHING FOE NOTHING" as was stated by one of your emissaries sent to Richmond recently a~ the tsx payers expense.- We have been paying and not receiving. Other than the widening of ~he Airline Boulevard, which is beneficial to the entire City (for which the City paid one fourth of its cost), this-ares has hsd only two improvements since annexation in 194~. These being curbs, gutters and sewerage and these are being paid for by s special levy placed upon the same tax payers who will pay the increased real ests~e- tax rate which went into effect January 1, 1963. The land and building values on the streets referred to in this letter, were increased over last years assessment not because the value increased but 5o bring in additional reven~e. This street repaxr issue has been through the proper channels of the'City Administration and we see no reason why the Council cannot at this meeting direct the City Manager to have these streets properly graded and resurfaced with black top as is being done in some of the other parts of the city." Motion of Mr. Diilon that the communication be received as information and referred the City Manager for consideration, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 63-23 - The following communication from the Westhaven Park Civic League was read: "Last month, the local Press reported the election of Mayor R. Irvine Smith, and others, to the Southeastern Regional Planning Commission. In view of the ruling by the Commonwealth's Attorney General relative to the impropriety of the Council's election of Councilman Jack P. Barnes to the Airport Authority, the election of Mayor Smith to the Southeastern Regional Planning Commission would also appear improper. Specific attention ~s invited to the following statement, as contained in the Portsmouth City Charter, Quote, "NO ~EMBER OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE ELIGIBLE~ DURING HIS TENURE OF OFFICE AS SUCH MEMBER, OR FOR ONE YEAR THEREAFTER, TO ANY OFFICE TO BE FILLED BY THE COUNCIL, BY ELECTION, OR BY APPOINTMENT." End of quote. We will appreciate hearing your comments on this matter at an early date in regular open session of the Council." Motion of Mr. Knight that the communication be received and filed was adopted, without dissenting vote. 63-24 - Motion Of Mr. Barnes that the question of correcting the traffic light at the corner of High Street and Airline Boulevard, where the island was recently cu5 back, be investigated snd that $ report be brought ~o the next conference of Council, was adopted, without dissenting vo~e. On motion adjourned. Approved - President City Clerk