Minutes 09/29/1959 - Laserfiche WebLink

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On motion of Mr. Smith, r~les were suspended to hear from interested persons. E.B. Ktine spoke. 59-264 - The following letter from Delegate Inez D. Baker was read: n " ' ' nd you and the other members1 As the member in charge of arrangements, I wish To exte of City Council an invitation to attend the public hearing which is to be conducted in Portsmouth on October 16th by the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council's s~dy committee on Drunk Driving and Speed Laws. The hearing will begin at 10:00 A.M., and, as you know, will be held in the Council Chamber. One of the proposals which the Committee has before it for consideration, and on which we are anxious to hear the views of the people, is a bill which makes operation of a car upon a highway a grant of consent on the par~ of the operato~ ~o a blood test for alcohol, if he is arrested for driving while under the influence, or affected by, alcohol. In the event a driver, arrested for violation cf._the drunk driving statutes, re~uses a bloo~ test without goQd reasPn, his operator's license will be suspended for a year. The Biii' also pr6vidss for a mandatory ~ail sentence of not less than ten days for a first offens~ of driving under the influence of alcohol. This se~ence may be served in ~wo -day successive confinements. A sentence' f~r confinement can not be suspended. It is our desire to, hear from as many interested persons as possible and we would certainly be honored to have the Council members with us. I wish to take this opportunity ro thank you, the Council~ and the City ~anager for granting use Of the Council Chamber ~o the Governor $, Co~i,ttee ~Dr this.meeting. dissenting voTe~ Mo~ion of ~r. Breedlove 5o accep~ the invitation with thanks was adopted, without 59-~65 - The following letter from the Pilot Club of Portsmouth was read: "The Pilot Club of Portsmouth~ during our monthly business meeting, has asked that a letter be written To you regnrdiD~ the future disposition of our presen~ Post Office building located on Court Street. The membership feels 5hat this.bnilding,_after ~emov.al of our Post Office into the new Federal Building, under conssruction, would be an ideal location for the City of Portsmouth Public Library. We are all aware of the unsatisfactory location of our Public Library, and feel that the transfer to the above mentioned location would be a definite improvemen~ in our public facilities. ~e will appreciate it if you will r~ad this letter during the next meeting of the City Council in order that they may know our feelings in the matter. (Signed) ~rs.~ary Zeller, President." On motion of Mr. Weisemau, the Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the letter. 59-9-66 - The following letter from the Portsmouth Area Council of Garden Clubs signed by ~rs. Thomas A Hodges, Assistant Corr.espondi~g, Secret~ury, was read: "The Executive Board and the member clubs of the Portsmouth Area Council of Garde~ Clubs, consisting of approxima~ly nine hundred women, wish ~o go on record as .desiring the success of the proposed Lincolnsville Urban Renewal project. These ~progressive women are affiliated with the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs (an organization of approximately twelve thousand Wolpen) and have-as their objective "Beautification of our Innnediate Community". They stand always ready for the betterment of our City. This venture would be a thous- and fold worthwhile project, It would reveal a thriving and progressive citJ~. It is our desire to endorse any . " ' ~ We sincerely hope that serious movement toward the elimination of the slam area.of Progr-esstve Portsmouth". consideration wil% be given this matter, which witl bring progress beyon~ any possible prediction. ~otion of_ Mr. Breedlove that this be. received and filed was adopted, without dissenting vo~e. . , 59-9,67 - ~r. Walker entered the following formal protest: "I wish to enter a formal protest regarding the manner in which the Portsmouth Housing ~uthori~ty conducted ~he Lincolnsville public hearing on Thursday 24th September, 1959. The hearing faile~ to carry out either the letter or the spirit of the law. The following grounds for this protest are .specified: 1. The man selected by the Commission ~o conduct the hearing, Mr. Cooper, has stated before this body publicly that he was against.public hearings and therefore was not the man best fitted to conduct a fair and impartial hearing. The chairman, Nr. Cooper, on question, admitted ~hat the 'ground rubles' which he stated ~o be a 5 minute Re~ speake~ limit, asd a 2 hour overall limit, were of his own volition and not by directi~ of the Commission. 3. The five (5) minu%e limit he established, althqugh sufficient for the reading of a reso- lution, was no~ sufficient ~ime for one no~ versed in public speaking ~o properly present the only protest the law allows in defense of his or her. homes. 4. The ~wo (2) hour limit establkshed by the Chairman was insufficient To allow even a frac- tion of the citizens presen~ a chance to speak. 5. The failure of the Chairman ~o take the necessary action ~o preven~ a Nrc Carry from heckling the crowd,.the speakers, and the chairman himself, throughou~ the meeting, finally demanding that the meeting be adj~ourned." On motion filed. 59-g68 - On motion of Mr. Breedlove, the rules were suspended to hear from Mr. Jesse Alspaugh, who apologized ~o Mr. Breedtove for remarks made on another occasion. Nr. Breedlove accepted the apology. 59-269 - Mr. E.W. Pillow, representing the American Federation of State and ~unicipal ~mployees of Washington,D.C., spoke regarding conditions in the Police Department, ~d asked for a sur- vey; also requested a closed conference with the Council. Mr. T.E. Engram, President of the local Police Union, spoke.