Minutes 04/08/1958 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 8th.~ 1958 At ~a regular meeting of the City Council held April 8th., 1958 there were present: A. C. Bartlett, B. W. Baker, W. E. Hinton, Frank L. Kirby~ John E. Scott, R. Irvine Smith, M. Earl Weisenm~, I. G. Vass, City Manager, and J. S. Livesay, City Attorney The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. W. E. FLinton. The followi~g reports from the City ~anager were read: 58-107 - "It is in order that the City Attorney make a repor~ on the sale of Dog License tags within the City." "On ~arch 11, 1958, you directed me to confer with the Commonwealth's Attorney for Norfolk County with respect to the sale by the County Treasurer'of dog licenses through agents within the City of Portsmouth. Through a personal discussion with the Commonwealth's Attorney for Norfolk County and an exchange of letters, I find that the County Treasurer has instructed his agents to sell these dog licenses only to county residents. The Connty Treasurer pointed out that this practice has existed for a number of years and that it provides a convenience to the citizens of Norfolk County. There appears to be no reason ~hy the City Treasurer could no~ sell dog licenses to residents of the City through the same agents employed by the County Treasurer, bu~ this lies within the discretion of the City Treasurer." (signed J. S. Livesay Jr., City Attorney) On motion filed. 58-108 - "I am reporting that I have carried out the instruction of the Council by purchasing the John Smith proper~y on Gosport Road and recommend that I be authorized and directed to offer the buildings on the premises for sale to be removed from their present location not later than fifteen days from the purchase of the building." Motion of Ur. Baker that the City Manager be authorized to sell this building a~ Public Auction was adopted. 58-109 - ~'I s~ reporting that I have had a conference with the Director of Public Welfare the Director of the Recreation Bureau and the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds with reference to the playgrounds and the restrooms particularly proposed to be constructed thereon. I have been requested by the Director of Recreation that the Recreation Bureau be granted the privilege of the concessions at the Wythe Street Playground and also that a concesszon stand be erected at the Tru~ton Field and that they also be granted permission to operate the concession stand at this playground. I have also been informed that several of the interested property owners sell food and drinks at the Dale Field and Westhaven Playgrounds and perhaps at some of the others. All of the pro- ~ltS derived from the concessions at the various playgrounds is used in one way or another to suppor~ the Recreation Bureau and the playfield program. The attached report on the estimate of costs of the various playgrounds is for your information, also the list of materials in stock that could be used for this purpose. I am of the opinion that a question has arisen as to what the policy of the City should be concerning this matter, whether the concession privilege should be sold to private operators or whether the Recreation Bureau should be permitted to operate the concessions. Since it is a matter of policy, I am of idle opinion that Council should determine this before proceeding further with the concession matter at the playground." Notion of Mr. Smith ~o place an appropriation of $720.00 on firs~ reading for repairing the recreation baseball fields was adopted. 58-110 - "I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. R. T. Trafton, Superintendent of the Electrical Department recommending that Columbia Street be made one ~ay wes~ between Effingham and Chestnu~ Streets~ At present Columbia Street is one way east between Washington and Crawford Streets and I think a study of the traffic conditions should be made before submitting a recommendation as suggested by Ur. Trafton. I will make my recommendation ar the nexm Council meeting and will have the City Attorney prepare an Amendment ~o the City Code ~o be placed on first reading." On motion filed. 58-111 - "I submit a contract b~tween the United States of America and the City of Portsmouth for the sale of water to be used at the Bridge Mouse, Deep Creek, NorfolkCounty, Virginia and I recommend that the proper City official be authorized and directed to execuze the contract on behalf of the City and that the City Clerk attest the same and affix the City Seal thereto." Notion of Nr. M. Earl Weiseman that the proper City officials he authorized to sign the con~ract was adopted. 58-112 - "I submit a petition tiled with Mr, F. J. Bergeron, Director of Public Works signed by a group of citizens requesting curbs and gutters. Since this would he a portion of a capital improvement pro. ram that we have discussed for sometime, I reconn~end that the matter be considered at such time that a capital improvement program xs ad~oted by City Council." ~otion of ~r. M. Earl Weiseman to concur in the recommendation of the City Manager was adopted.