Minutes 04/12/1960 - Laserfiche WebLink

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39: April 12th~ 1960 '~t th~ regular meeting of the Mayflower ParkCivic League, a motion was made and carried that a letter be written ~o the City Council, sta~ing the n~ed o~ two street lights in the fourth sectiont of Mayflower Park, and requesting the City Co~cil consider grantin~ two Iights for this area. One light' is needed very badly in the 300 blo~k o2 Leonard Ave.' on VEP~Co. pole No.'14~ ~, and the other one i~ needed on t~ 300 block ~f Mayflower Rd,, ar VEl'Co. pole No. 1457 Do Both of these areas are very dark, and there is a sharp] S curve where the light is des'ire~ on MayflOWer Rd. We would like to thank you in advance for any consideration that you will give us in this matter. (Signed John H. Harris, Acting Secretary.~~' withou~ dissenting vote. Motion of Mr. Breedlove ~o refer ~o the City Manager for attention, was adopted, 60~106 - The following petition from residents of Washington Ward was read: "We, the undersigned qualified electors a~d real estate owners of Portsmouth, res- pectfully petition your honorable body~to fix up the streets and gutters in our section~(Washing~on Ward). The streets in this section a~e in a deplorable condition. Plemse give ~ool Ave. your special attention. The proper~y owners advise that the streets above re~erred ~o are in the Mt. Hermon section of the City of Portsmouth." Motion of Mr. ~rtlett to refer ~o ~he C~ty'Manager for investigation and repor~ was adopted, without dissenting vo~e. 60-107 - The following copy of letter addressed to the~ Postmaster, Portsmouth, by the Mayflower Park Civic League, was read: "At the Mar~h business meeting of the Mayflower Park Civic Club, it was re- quested that a letter bewritten to the Postmaster of Portsmouth, requesting that door ~o door delivery be es - tablished in all sectiens of Mayflower Park. We fe~l that now we are a part of the City we sho. uld bd able to rid ourselves of the .'counzry' mail boxes. We feel too, that the Post Office truck, through h~-fault of the driver, is ca~sing damag~ ~9~roads. We feel sure that you will agree with that s~atemeut if your field agent will just £ollowthe truck one day and inspec~ the roads. 'We would appreciate it very much any help you could give us on this mat~er." Motion of Mr. Smith that the Manager Confer with the Postmaster on the ma~er, Ku an attemp~ to secure the service desired, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 60-108 - The following letter from Mr. George E. Parker was read: "InOctober, 1951, I was appointed as a member of the Zoning and Planning Commis- sion to fill the unexpired term of a member who had resigned. I ha ye served between eight and nine years and, much of that time, aa Chairman of the Commission. I have been glad to be of service ~o the City in this connec- tion, but fer several mon~hs, I have felt that I have served long enough and should step aside for someone else, with new ideas and new plans for our City. It seems to me that now is an appropriate time for me to take this s~ep, so I would like ~o tender my resignation as a member of the Zoning and Planning Commission, same to be effective as of May 1st, 1960. I would like to thank those who have worked with me during this period of time; and as a citizen, I want ~o assure you that I shall continue ~o be very much interested in the affairs of our City." Motion of Mr. ~eiseman that the resignation be accepted with regre~ and that we extend our thanks and;~apprec&ati~n~$o Mr. Parker for his fine service ~o the City. Substitute motion of Mr. Walker that the City Manager be requested to contact Mr. Parker ~to ask if he will remain on the Planning Commission until the new Zoning Ordinance has been complete¢ was adopted, without dissenting vote. 60-109 - The following letter from Dr. L. I. Snyder was read: "On March 20, 1960 was held in theCouncil Chambers an assembly called by the Portsmouth Ministerial Association purported by the press ~o study 'racial tension'. The specific inten~ appears to be the formation of a Mayor's Friendly 'Inter-racial Relations Committee. However, according to the same press release, one of the ministerial members made the following statement: 'Either we are Christians or Jews - or pagans. There is no middle point.' Therefore. it becomes apparen~ that this 'friendly inter-racial relations Com- mittee' will be of a religious nature, both from the source of international sponsorship and this avowed u~er- ance quoted immediatelyahove: May the Council be respectfully urged re avoid any such developmenz in the light of its nearness ~o the establishment of the religious as prohibited by the First Amendment of the Constitution of these United States; and, it is believed existent, similar proscription by instruments of the Commonwealth of Virginma, project,ye to Religmous Liberty. Since many cour~ deciszons have made it clear that establishment of religion is not to be had; and often upon even single remonstrances, it is sincerely hoped that Council will find it expe- dient and wise ~o avoid establishing any such 'friendly committee' intended ~o crea~e strife and discord by the religious basis for its existence and presumed future positions. It is felt certain that Council will agree viewpoints on the contemporary race question can no~ be properly defined as wittKn or withou~ the framework of the religious unless increased dis- tress result. The handling of all racial ma~ers within the framework of the legislative and legal surely is the only proper phase of activity for Council ~o admit." Motion of Mr. Breedlove ~o refer ~o a conference of the Council. Mr. Walker spoke in regard ~o the ma~er. Mr. Bartlet~ rose ~o a point of privilege, objectihg uo considering a ma~er which had bean referred to a conference of the Council, on March 22nd.