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July 12th, 1960.
<br />
<br /> In this COnnection, the following letter from the Francis I DuPont Company was read:
<br />
<br /> "On April 20~ 1960, I wrote a letter requesting information on the proper procedure to
<br />follow in order ior m~y £irm 'to act as the Ci~y'~s ~gent on the flOor of the New Yo~k Stock Exchange. To date I
<br />have received no answer to my~lueation. Can you mdvise me:'
<br /> 1. The proper proce'durereferred
<br /> 2. If a Portsmouth resident would be allowed to serve the City's account.
<br /> (Signed) John V. Turtle, Registered Representative."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Weiseman that the letter be acknowledged and that Mr. Turtle be forwarded
<br />a copy of the report made by the Secretary of the Portsmouth Supplemental Retirement System, was adopted, with-
<br />out dissenting vote.
<br />
<br />60~221 - The following communication from the Acting Planning Director was red:
<br />
<br /> "The Plarming Commission at its meeting on July 8th, i960, recommends to the City Court-I
<br />cil that the parcel of land on Broad St, and Western Branch Road, owned by the City of Portsmouth, not be offered
<br />for sale at this timeo'~
<br />
<br /> ~otion of Mr. Weiseman that the person or persons interested in the purchase of the
<br />property in question be'informed that it will not be offered for sale. at this time, was adopted, without dis -
<br />senting'vote.
<br />
<br />60.-222 ~ The following letter from A~A. Ban~el was read:
<br />
<br /> "At the outset, let me say that r am a lifelong resident of the City of Portsmouth,
<br /> and with the exception of the time spent in military service of the United States during World War I, I have
<br /> continuously resided in this City. I have been activety and continupusly engaged in t he practice of law in this
<br /> City for more than 45 years. I love this City and all its'people. I have trnveled extensively, but have found
<br /> no city, place or country that can compare with our City.
<br /> I am prompted by my sense of fairness and jm tice to write you this letter. I hope
<br /> that it will he received in the spirit in which it is intended and not as a criticism of the administration of
<br /> any city official.
<br /> ~ Portsmouth is very fortunate in having as members of its constabulary, including its
<br /> past and present Chief of olice, men of stature; They are high of characte~ and beyond question of veracity. The
<br /> Chme f of Polmce, the line officers and the men walking the beats are fearless,'conscientious, courageous, honest~
<br /> trustworthy and dedicated to their work. The City has had trouble in getting additional good police officers,
<br /> when needed, because of t~einadequacy of proper compensation.
<br /> These men work hard. They. work s full 8 hours and then workovertime without pay
<br /> when attending court as witnesses, and this'is true whether they a~e witnesses ~n criminal or civilcaseS.exists~in
<br /> O£tentimes, they find themselves working the night shift and the next day having to remain awake to testify and
<br />
<br /> then have to report back to work that night. We have all read about the vicious police condition that
<br /> the City of Richmond, of the great number of police officers who; when called by the grand jury, availed them -
<br /> selves of the ~ifth amendment to the United States Constitution.' Please do not drive our excellent police of -
<br /> fleers into doing something which is repulsive to them, to the Department and to the City. This can be easily
<br /> averted by paying them a decent tivingwage. In order to meettheir current expenses, some of these pol~ e
<br /> officers withtarge families find it necessary,'to find employment on their off hours, in order to supplement
<br /> their salaries, This should not be necessary and will no~ be necessary, if they are decently paid. I am reason-
<br /> ably certain that~these policemen would,prefer a living wa~e and nbt have to work on their off-time. They are
<br /> human, theylove their families and want to give them a dedent place'in~$hich to live, sufficient clothes to
<br /> wear and proper food to eat. Some of them would like to be able to buy a little home they can call their own.
<br />
<br /> I do not know whether they would approve of my action in writing this letter or not
<br /> I am sure if they were asked, they. would say that 'we ask for no more, nor are we entitled to any less'. IT a
<br /> policeman were to stray from the straight and narrow path, then the responsibility should rest solely on the
<br /> shoulders of the:Ci%y Council. The Council should be on trial rather than the officers.
<br /> I have been brutally frank in this letter, but I have always spoken frankly. I
<br /> believe I can show the Council where sufficient funds can c'ome from to pay a salary commensurate with the hight
<br /> cost of living and still stay within the City's budget and without raising any additional taxes. Although I am
<br /> as busy as I can be, if requested by yoM, I will take time from my work,to meet with you and members of the City
<br />'~ouncil to discuss the matter in more detail.
<br /> With the hope that something ~ilt be done to alleviate the conditions recited in
<br /> this letter - (Signed) A.A. Bangel."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Walker to ~efer to conference of .the Council on salaries, ~o be hel(
<br />on July 21st, was adopted, without dissenting vote.
<br />
<br />60-223 - The following copy of letter addressed to the Superintendent of Schools
<br />
<br /> "The Portsmouth Council of Colored Parents and Teachers takes this means of inform-
<br />ing you Of our concern regarding the disposition~ of the Britts School Building. We share with you the knowledge
<br />that the students of I.C..Norcom High School will be attending classes in several shifts in September. This means
<br />that many of our boys and girls will be leaving school after dark. This presents a very distressiug ~icture to
<br />the parents of these children.
<br /> We further share the knowledge that many,inadequacies exist in the class room
<br />facilities at the Riddick-Weaver School Center. It is :our feeling that the c~ass rooms in the Brisgs School
<br />could, and should be, used m eliminaIesome of the existing ir~adequacies in. our~ class room facilities. We do not
<br />feel tha~ our 'system can quite afford to rid itself :of any of its usable class rooms a~ this time.
<br />
<br /> We urge you to seriously consider our viewpoin~ and act in the .besz interest of
<br />a laz~e segment of our boys and girls. (Signed)--Mrs. Lottie H Smith, Pres. Mrs. Rachel B.Cassell, Sec,"
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Breedlove to refer to the City Manager was adopted, without dissent-
<br />lng vote.
<br />
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