Minutes 11/14/1961 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 14th, 1961 61-297 -. An appropriation in the amount of $435,000.00 for the construction of Highland Bittmore School which was approved on first reading az last meeting was taken up. On motion of Mr. Leary $435,000.00 was appropriated for said purpose and by the following vote: Ayes: Smith, Atkinson, Barnes, Dillon, Leafy, Walker Nays: None. -- NEW BUSINESS -- 61-314 - Applications for position of Justice of Peace were ~eceived from the following: J. S. Pitchford Lillian C. Westbrook Margaret E. Myers Arthur N. Taylor Linwood W. Parker Fletcher L. Robinson On motion of Mr. Barn~s, ~eferred To a conference on the ~ection of Justices of the 61-315 - Mr. Walker presented the following resolution and moved its adoption: "WHEREAS, the President of the Portsmouth City C~uncil did, without leave or notice to Council, absent himself from the duties, responsibilities and office to which he was duly elected; such absence not being due co sickness or mandatory business; To enjoy a junket upon the largess of the federal governmenT, and WHEREAS, by reason of such absence of approximately six weeks, the proper and lawful business of Council was jeopardized by reducing the number of members from seven to six contrary to the language and intent of the Charter and which, in event of a tie vote, would have delivered To a minority of three members the power To control the business of Council, and WHEREAS, by placing himself beyond the continental limits of the United States for s period of approximately slx weeks, he did remove himself from the requirements and effects of Section 4 of the Rules of Council thereby seriously compromising the lawful operation of Council in eventcOf emer- gency legislation and WHEREAS such vacations with pay at the public e~pense tend To establish a precedent a~ the local level which is already flagrant au higher echelons and WHEREAS,~during such absence, Council was faced with many items of important business including the delayed-action hearing on stree~ renaming and re- aumbering, the creation of the library board, the final pigeon-holirkg of the Juvenile Detention Home issue, the resolution for federal planning funds and the ordinance calling for an election on waser bonds, revelation of another deficit, and many others, all of which'the President was s prime proponenT, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the abovesaid acts of the President does constitute dereliction of duty for which he is hereby censured, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it shall be henceforth the policy of this body that the failure to attend Two or more consecutive regular or special meetings of Council, except for sickness or acts beyond the control of the individual councilman, shall be considered to be dereliction of duty." The motion was lost, there being no second. 61-316 - The following application for re-election to the office of High Constable was read% and on motion of Mr. Barnes: referred to a conference of the Council: "I respectfully make application To you for re-election the office of High Constable for the new term ~o begin on January 1, 1962. I have endeavored to properly perform the duties of the office, and I believe I have given satisfactory service. I will appreciate your favorable consideration. Signed: Chas. L. Cain." 61-317 The following communication from the Cradock Junior Chamber of Commerce was read: "We the Cradock Junior Chamber of Commerce Inc., being a part of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, are resolved that our City should adopt a Fire Prevention Code prescribing regulations governing condi- tions h~zardous To life and property from fire and explosion; and establishing a bureau of Fire Prevention, pro- viding officers therefor, defining their powers and duties; wheress we do not feel the City of Portsmouth has