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March llth. 1958
<br />
<br />held unnecessary closed
<br />
<br />conferences, and
<br />
<br />WTIEREAS, the.right of the people to know ~f the activities of their government is an
<br />essential right, that must never be a~ridged; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the exclusion of the Citizens of Portsmouth and the press ~n these close~.con-l:~'
<br />ferences has not been in the public interest; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, much of the misunderstanding in the co~manity has been caused by these closed
<br />conferences; now, therefore be it
<br />
<br />P~SOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, that there will be no further
<br />closed conferences held whereby matters in the public interest'are withheld. That
<br />th~ Council hereby reiterates that it is a public body created by and for the
<br />people of Portsmouth. That although it is a corporate body, it is also a public
<br />corporate body and deplores unnecessary secrecy in its meetings.
<br />
<br />Be it further Resol[ved, that the Council of the City of Portsmouth hereby adopts a
<br />policy granting the phhlic free access to information consistent with (1) The pro -
<br />tection of the privacy of individuals ~n personal matters not related to Public Bus-
<br />iness, and (2) The premature disclosure of information where such d~sclosure would
<br />be harmful to the Public Interest, in making official Records and Meetings of the
<br />Body open To the Public."
<br />
<br />There being no second, no action wan taken.
<br />
<br />UNFINISHED BUSINESS -
<br />
<br />to Polibe headquarters,
<br />following vote:
<br />
<br />58-57 - An appropriation of $3,150.00 for the phrchase of property on North St. adjacenl
<br />placed on first reading az. last meeting, was taken up.
<br />
<br /> M~tion of Mr. Scott ~o appropriate $3,150.00 for said purpose, was adopted, and by the
<br />
<br />Ayes:
<br />NayS:
<br />
<br />Bartlett, Baker, Hinton, Kirby, John E. Scott, R. Irvine Smith, H.Earl Weiseman
<br />
<br /> 58-53 - The City Clerk reported ft was in order to elect a Justice of Peace for Harri-
<br />son Ward.
<br /> Motion of Mr. Scott to go into the election of a Justice of Peace for Harrison Ward, to
<br />fill the unexpired term of C.B. Jackson, was adopted.
<br />
<br />Mr. Weiseman nominated H.E. Benton
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Hinton that nominations be closed and that Mr. Benton be declared elected,
<br />was adopted.
<br />
<br /> 58-63 - A refund of personal Droperty ~axes in the amoun~ of $16.50, to John P. Costello
<br />placed on first reading' at last meeting, was taken up.
<br />
<br />~otion of Mr. Scott ~o approve the refund on second reading, was adopted.
<br />
<br />NEW BUSINESS
<br />
<br />58-83 - The following letter f~om Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Mathias was read:
<br />
<br /> "A petition was presented to the Council at your last meeting, which was signed' in re-
<br />gard to the re-assessment of tax. We are requesting that our names be removed frc~ this petition, as w~ have re-
<br />ceived a ~air and ~St settlement on our tax problem.
<br /> H.G. Mathias and Mrs. H.G. Mathias."
<br /> ~ne following letter from W. W. Morse,~.J.r~,~w~a read~-..~."
<br />
<br /> 58-84 - "B~tween February 15 and 21,' 1958, I circulated a petition mn the City o~ Portsmouth,
<br />addressed to the Portsmouth City Council and had 42 persons sign the said petition. Since this petition has been
<br />filed with the City Council, there is some question in my mind as to the discrepancies in the Deii~ion that I
<br />circulated and the p~titibn on file. The~e being some doubt in my mind, I respectfull~request a withdrawal of
<br />the said ~etition, bearing my affidavit dated February 21, 1958. W.W. Morse, Jr."
<br />
<br />adopted.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Weiseman that the above ~wo letters be referred to the City Attorney~ was
<br />58-85 - The £ollowi~g letter from the West Side Civic Club was read:
<br />
<br /> "A motion was made and adopted by the West Side Civic Club of Portsmouth, at its regu-
<br />lar monthly meeting on February 25, 1958, that it go on record as opposing Merrimac Park. We, as taxpayers and
<br />voters of Portsmouth, feel that the City officials should use their efforts to see that we get first things
<br />first; such as storm drainage, curbs and gutters, a new incinerator, a new library, etc; before even consider-
<br />lng projects such as or similar to Merrimac Park. Louis H. Keller, President."
<br />
<br />On motion filed.
<br />
<br />58-86 - The following letter from the Westhaven Park Civic League was read:
<br />
<br /> "It is the desire of the overwhelming majority of the residents of the Westhsven Park to
<br />
<br />
<br />
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