Minutes 10/13/1959 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 13th, 1959 The following spoke: T.E. Engram R.L. Morgan (.Sergeant, Pol.ic~ Dept.) L.A. Broughtoa (Captain,, Police Dept.), J.A. Hundley (Captain, Police Dept..). Mrs. B.W. Baker Mr. Engram asked that the Council appoint a Citizens Committee to investigate the charges · and any parallel charges that may exist. Notion of Mr. Weiseman that the City Manager be permitted to continue his invesgitation and report back to the Council, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 59-282 -. The following letter from the Lincolnsville Home Owners ProtectiveLeague, signed by Mrs. Mamie H. Richards.oh, Secretary, was read: "We wish to enter a protest concernzng the manner in which the Housing Authority conducted the Lincolnsville project public hearing, Thursday, September 24, 19590 We feel that the action of the Chairman in setting a time limit of five (5) minutes for speakers and a two hour hearing was arbitrary, high- handed and illegal. NL~ny of our people had no chance to-speak in defense of .their rights and homes. It zs requested that another public hearing be held and that all parties be given th~ courtesy and right to be heard without interruption." adopted. Motion of Mr. Walker that ~.the rules be suspended to hear from interested persons, was Charles B. Richamdson spoke regarding the hearing held on the Lincolnsville project, by ~the Housing Authority, on September ~4th, 1959. 59-283 - The following communication from the West Side Civic League was read: "The attached resolution was unanimously adopted by. the West Side Civic League a~ the regular monthly meeting held on October 5th, 1959. It is respectfully requested that City Council take immediate steps toward the strict %nforcement of the Port~mouth Houszng ordinance. Signed - L.H. Keffero" Resolution - "%~HEREAS, the.home o~wner of this City. should be given first consideration, and not removed from their homes; to have them -torn down in the name of 'Progress', when in reality it is being done in order that others may profit thereby. WHEREAS~ it is morally wrong to take fEom these home owners, who throughout the years have denied themselves of many pleasures in life in order to own a home of their own at the twilight years of their lives. WHEREAS, all civic organizations that have the welfare of Portsmouth at heart should encourage all property owners to take pride in their homes, and keep them far above that which is considered the m~nimtuu housing standards, and to urge people with rental property to keep said property up and above the standard required, WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth has a Board of Minimum Housing Standards adopted by City Council M~y 14, 1957; designated as 'The Portsmouth Housing Ordinance'. This ordinance could and should be enforced to the full limit of the law, which would attain the same results as Urban Renewal; and not at the direct expense of all taxpayers; and at the same time make better citizens of those who now own sub-standard homes, plus increasing ~he tax threefold. RESOLVED, that the West Side Civic League of Portsmouth, Va. endorses the strict enforcement of the ~PortsmQuth Housing Ordinance'." On motion filed. 59-284 - Mr. Walker requested members of the Council ~o reply to his communication regardin~ real estate assessment, On motion~adjourned City Clerk. Approved - President. ·Added at the request of Mr. Breedlog~: interrupted, shook his finger at the Councilmen, callin~ them 'Comrades' and Breedlove expressed ~bjection. Captain Broughton spoke in a belligerent manner, asked that he not be Added at the request of Mr. Smith: Captain Brou~htoh stated, in answer to the objection, that he meant no harm in using the word 'comrade.'; that h~ was not referring to 'Rnssianism'.