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Nevemher 10fh, 1959
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr~ Smith that a confere$ce of the Council be set and a later conference with
<br />the Legislators, preferably on the same date, to discuss this matter, was adopted, without dissenting vote.
<br />
<br /> 59-299 - "At the last meeting~of Council, you referred to the City Manager and the City
<br />Attorney a letter from Mr. Andrew T. Jones, Jr., concerning City license on a bus operated by Mr. Jones.
<br /> Under State law, the City must use the classifications of motor vehicles estab-
<br />lished by the State and may not impose a licens~ tax.thereon greater tha~. the State license. The license tax
<br />ordinance of- the City of Portsmouth therefore imposes the same tax as.is collected by the S~ate.
<br /> Wh6n Mr. Jones secured his State license, he obviously gave them information
<br />which classi£ied~him as being in the 90 ct. per hundred weight bracket, and the office of the City Collector
<br />properly required him to pay 90 cts. per hundre~ weight to the City. If Mr. Jones can secure a reclassification
<br />from the State, the City will be bound to reclassify him; however, from our understanding of Mr. Jones' opera-
<br />tions, he is now classified correctly.
<br /> . Mr. Jones stated that a number of private bus operators bought their license
<br />at thirty cents par hundred weight. If any of these persons are observed using their buses for other than one
<br />per day of employee hauling, our license inspectors will require anadditional license in the ninety cent
<br />with penalty. (Signed) A P Johnson,Jr. City Manager, and J.S. Livesay,Jr., City Attorney."
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr. Breedlove ~o suspend the rules ~o hear from interested persons, was adopted.
<br />
<br />~.T0 Jones, Jr. spoke.
<br />
<br /> The Manager was instructed to write Mr. Jones explaining that his status with the City
<br />could be changed only if he obZained a different classification from the State.
<br />
<br /> 59-300 - "I am in receipt of a letter from the League of Virginia Municipalities advising
<br />that it appears a sales tax will be given serious consideration by the General Assembly. If this is to be con -
<br />sidered by the General Assembly, it is important that the localities are assured of receiving their faim share
<br />of the tax. There has been some discussion as to.~hether this ~ax should be earmarked for school purposes.
<br />The letter from the League suggesss that the Council may wish to appoint a
<br />committee to confer with our gepresentatives before the Legislature meets in January. I concur that the Council
<br />should give this matter serious consideration."
<br />
<br /> On motion, received as information.
<br />
<br /> 59~301 "A test on raising a portion of the floor of the Police Building has been com-
<br />pleted. The ~esr was successful and the floor was raised to the proper level by hydraulically pumping a substanc~
<br />under the floor. It is estimated to cosz no~ more than $6,000.00 to level the entire floor by this method.
<br />S~ince the heating pipes are in the floor and the floor has settled at least three inches in places, I believe
<br />this job s~outd he completed. It will be ~o the City's advantage ~o allow the ~ork to continue while the equip-
<br />menr is still at the building.
<br /> I recommend that I be authorized to have this work completed and an appropria-
<br />tion of $7~000.00 be placed on first reading. This appropriation would also cover the cost of repairing the
<br />walls and repainting."
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Smith, an appropriation of $7,000.00 for said purpose, was approved
<br />first reading, without dissenting vote.
<br />
<br /> 59-302 "Public auction was held today, November 10th, 1959, in front of the Court
<br />House for the sale of the following City-owned proper~y:
<br /> Parcel of land near the southwes~ intersection of County and Chestnut Sts. The
<br />highest bid on this proper~y was $2,000.00, made by A.A. Bangel. I recommend that the property be sold to him
<br />for the sum of $2,000.00.
<br /> The old spur track running through the block bounded by Crawford, London, Mid-
<br />dle and Glasgow Streets was also auctioned. The property was sold in three parcels. Mr. Waverly Winbourne was
<br />the high bidder on Parcel No.1 in the amoun~ of $310.00. Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Albertaon were the high bidder
<br />on Parcel No.2, in the amount of $110.00. M_r. Elsworth Lawson was the high bidder on Parcel No.3 in the amount
<br />of $50.00. I recommend that this property be sold ~o the above people for the amounts stated."
<br />
<br /> Notion of Mr. Breedlove to concur in the Manager's reconLmendation, was adopted, without
<br />dissenting vote.
<br />
<br /> UNFINISHED BUSINESS
<br />
<br /> 59-~85 - The following ordinance, approved on first reading a~ last meeting, was taken
<br />up and read:
<br />
<br /> "AN ORDINANCE TO ~MEND SECTION 16-57 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH,
<br /> VIRGINIA, 1951, AS APPENDED, RELATING TO ROUTES OF THE COMMUNITY BUS LINE"
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Breedlove to approve the ordinance on second reading.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Bartlett to delete the emergency clause as there are only five members of
<br /> Council present a~ this meeting, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> Vote being taken on motion of Mr. Breedlove, the ordinance was adopted, and by the follow-
<br /> ing vote:
<br /> Ayes: Baker, Bartlett, Breedlove, Smith, Walker
<br /> Nays: None
<br />
<br /> 59-286 - An appropriation of $12,000.00 for a new ladder and hoist for the aerial ladder
<br /> at Fire headquarters, approved on first reading a~ last meeting, was taken up.
<br />
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