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Notion of Mr. Breedlove to go into the election of a representative to the Metropolitan
<br />GovernmenI Plan Committee.
<br />
<br />Mr'. Walker made.the following statement:
<br />
<br />"Nm. President, I rise to a point of orderl It may be stated ~n two aeparate points -
<br />
<br /> First - The election or appointment of a representative to study Metro is improper~
<br />~0efore us in that:there has been no public discussion, o~ conference discussion leading up to, or a decision to
<br />~take part in such a study. Surely there should be a decision to join in such an important study with its aim
<br />of centrnlizing governmemt in any degree. There should be a decision of Council to take part in this study befo~
<br />.a representative is appointed. Many citizens of thisCity and at least one Councilman are against Metro, in any
<br />~orm, and this body. has not seen fit to consider their~vishes.
<br /> Secondly - Mr. Smith,s action, in addressing a message to a nominee of his choice,
<br />without direction of this body, either in con£erence or regular meeting, and~then presenting that nominee's ac -
<br />ceptance letter for consideration is high-handed, improper,'and constitutes 'railroading' in its brassiest form."
<br />
<br />The Chair ruled Mr. Walker out of order, stating that his point was not well
<br />Mr. Walker appealed from the.decision of the Chair.
<br />
<br />taken.
<br />
<br />by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr. Breedlove that the dec~ision of the Chair be supported, was adopted, and
<br />
<br /> Ayes: Smith, Barnes, Breedlove, Leafy, Seward, Weiseman
<br /> Nays: Walker
<br /> T~e Chair announced that the motionto .support the decision of the Chair had been adoptJd
<br />by more than a three-fourths majori,~y.
<br />
<br />Vote being taken, Nm. Breedlove's motion to go into the elect~on was adopted.
<br />
<br />Mr. Seward nominated Fred W. Beazley.
<br />
<br /> On motion oi Mr. Welsem~ nominations were closed.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Walker ~quest~d tha~ the folIowirtg letter addressed by him on April ~lst, 1960 to
<br />Charles Marshall, City Editor, Norfolk'Virginian ~ilo~, Norfolk, Va0, be recorded in the minutes:
<br />
<br /> "The following criticism 'conCerning the headline 'Co~maittee To Explore Metro System'
<br /> and the write-up following it in Wednesday's Pilo~ (EO April) is no~ p~rsonat. It is voiced, not only becauae
<br /> my feelings toward Metro, but because it is a departure from the plain and simple truth.
<br /> ~ believ~ that a review 'of Mr. Prieur's motion concerning the appointment o£ the com-
<br /> mittee would substuntiate the fact that the committee was not directed to 'explore ~etropolitan Systems'. That
<br /> was not"agreed -- to take the first step toward resolving government problems through a metropolitan system."
<br /> I believe that a review ef my comments at the m~eting is in.order.~ I Said that I
<br /> could notsupport a study of consolidation but could fully back a study of all phases of close co-operation. It
<br /> should be noted that I suggested amending the main motion to insure that ~he committee would not falsely consi-
<br /> der itself directed to study consolidation. Eemember that Gev. Borden requested me to withdraw the amendment
<br /> in view of the general concensu~ of opinion that a consolidatio~ study was not intended for this committee.
<br /> ~t ~s ~y personal opinion that .the ~bove noted headline and the news article were mis-
<br />leading if not in outright error. To leave such an impressio~ in the public mind would be doinga disservice
<br />whatever joint action might otherwise rasult on projects of real area inter,st and need. ~ is patently an inju$~
<br />rice to those o~ficials of the six political subdivisions who did n~t, and ~ould not, veto as you have so pub -
<br />~lished that they did. It is a certainty, lo~king ahead, that if the press continue~ ~6 tie ~he study cemmissioH
<br /> to the subject of ~Metro' or even the less-odorous term 'Consolidation', it can do no less than generate strong
<br /> opposition.
<br /> I-am certain, and I challenge you to canvass-thom; that you can not procure a unani-
<br /> mous vote of the members of the six governing bodies to appoint a con~aittee member to 'explore metropolitan
<br /> system' or to take -- the first step toward resolving government problems through metropolitan system', I know
<br /> it can not be done because, as I thought I ~ad made qui~e'cle~r at the meeting, I could not vote for it myself.
<br /> I fought against it two years ago when it reared its ugly head during the first rounds of the Portsmouth-Norfolk
<br /> County annexation. When you include me among those who vote to 'study it~, you indicate that I have done a com-
<br /> plete reverse. While I realize that reversals are becoming the political rule rather than the exception, I aa-
<br /> sure you that it is act the case in this instance.
<br /> I respectfully request ~hat the necessary action be taken to correct the above noted
<br /> errors. I humbly assert that t have no ob3ections to even socialistic leanings ~n the editorial columns and
<br /> declare that no organization which subscribes ~o the title of "American Newspaper" has the right to colour its
<br /> news columns to match its editorials. The process of osmosis 'is incompatible with newsprint."
<br />
<br />Vote 'being Saken on Nm.' Seward'~s motion, Mr. Beazley was elected, and by the following
<br />
<br /> For Mr.' Beazley: Smith, Barnes, Breedlove, Leafy, Seward, Weiseman
<br /> Against:60_238 - "i recommendWalk~appropriationof$10,500.00,beplacedonf%rstreading, from
<br />Capital Improvement F~nd. Th~s is necessary fo~ ~the remodeling of'Briggs School for the Juvenile Court. It wil~
<br />be constructed in order 'that everything can be salvaged if and when the Court is moved to another location. This
<br />also includes air conditioning the offices."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Breedlove that an appropriation of $10,500~00 for said purpose be approved
<br />on first reading 'was adopted, and by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Nays: Walker
<br />
<br />
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