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March llth, 1958,
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<br />make known to-the Council of the City of Portsmouth, certain views and questions relative to two specific issues.
<br />One has been before this and other Councils for the past ten years. The other is of comparatively recent origin~
<br />Both items are of grave concern to the Westhaven Park Civic League. By the unanimous vote of the members present
<br />at the regular March 6th meeting, the officers of the League were directed to communicate these views and ques -
<br />tions to the Council.
<br /> Prior to January l, 1948, annexation of this area, the City, by statements in the
<br />daily press and before the annexation courts, itemized many benefits which would accrue to this ares as a result
<br />of annexation. Among these promised benefits were curbs, gutters and adequate drainage. Two subsequent surveys
<br />confirmed the need for these improvements. Now, ten years after annexation, curbs, gutters and adequate drainage
<br />are still somewhere in the vague future.
<br /> The Westhaven Park Civic League would like to know: First, is there some logical
<br />explanation of these ten years of delay? Representative groups have appeared before the Council to plead for
<br />these necessities, but to no avail. Petitions bearing hundreds of signatures have been presented. These were
<br />received, filed and ignored, Second, what purpose has been served by the surveys which have cost the taxpayers
<br />many thousands of dollars7 What future purpose will these surveys have? Third, how do the needs of this ares
<br />fit into the Planning Engineer's 'Six Year Plan' and when can the residents expect some sort of s start on these
<br />long over-due projects? The citizens will greatly appreciate the answers to these questions.
<br /> The second issue, and of more recent origin, concerns matters relating to the pro -
<br />posed Merrimac Park. The League wishes to enter the strengest possible protest against further expenditures, or
<br />obligations to expend public funds in behalf of the Merr~mac Park proposal until the citizens of Portsmouth, by
<br />a favorable referendum vote, decide that such s park should he established. In addition, the League urges the
<br />Council to make every ressonable effort to recover, if possible, the ~$10,000~.0Q option payment made to the Sea-
<br />board Railroad for the property which might never be used for Merrimac Park. It is extremely unlikely that the
<br />people of Portsmouth will accept the dubious luxury of Merrimac Park in preference to the many necessities which
<br />have long gone unattended. O.F. Bradshaw, President. P.E. Wnukoski, Chairman, Civic Affairs Committee."
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr. Smith that this letter be acknowledged, was adopted.
<br />
<br />58-87 - The following petition was presented:
<br />
<br /> "In eliminating bus service in the forgotten Shem Terrace section of our city, you
<br />have caused a real hardship to many people. We have to walk five ~or six long blocks in all kinds of weather.
<br />Three hundred and ~wenny-five taxpayersmand patrons of the bus do hereby request and urge bus service to our
<br />section, namely up Sixth Ave. to McDaniel S~, turning at Seventh Ave., and up Seventh to Elizabeth St., thence
<br />to Pinners Point, returning the same route.
<br /> . As far as the fare is concerned, in the past seven years, you have granted the PTC
<br />raises from l0 cents to 12 cents, to 15 cents to 17 cents which is higher than most any city in the State of Vir-
<br />ginia. Therefore, we beg you to keep the present fare.
<br /> Signed C.M. Gaskins, 619 N. 6th Ave., and others."
<br />
<br />58-88 - The following petition-was presented:
<br />
<br /> "We of the ten, eleven and twelve hundred blocks of east-west s~reets and connectin
<br />blocks of north-south streets, between Leckie St. and North St. in Park view are now without adequate bus service
<br />effective Sund~y, February 23, 1958. The present routing brings the bus on the outskirts of our neighborhood by
<br />using Fort Lane Eo enter and to leave the area north of Leckie St. Our concern is particularly with the large
<br />number of old people and ch$1dren, plus the many mothers with babies and young children, who have no other means
<br />of transportation. We feel that at best it is an unnecessary hardship and that at night it is even dangerous.
<br />Over recent years we have had our share of purse-snatchings and night prowlers. We realize the Portsmouth Transit
<br />Company is doing everything possible to reduce its expenses but feel that routing the bus at least one way along
<br />Elm and Holladay Ets. would be just as economical. With this petition we ask that you put forth whatever effort
<br />necessary to correct this situation.
<br /> Signed - ~Lr. and Mrs. H.G. Marriner, l129 Holladay St.and others."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Smith that the Portsmouth Transit Company be instructed to return the
<br />Park View, ~est Park View and Shes Terrace bus service to their previous routes and further, that a study of the
<br />other bus routes be made with the Transportation Committee, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> 58-89 - The resolution presented by the Citizens Protective League at the last meeting of
<br />the Council was taken up.
<br />
<br />Citizens Protective League:
<br />
<br />The Mayor presented the following resolution in answer to the resolution of the
<br />
<br />(from Citizens Protective League Resolution) By declaring the assessments of
<br />real estate recently announced by the City Assessor null and void and that the
<br />assessments of real estate for taxation by the City should be the same amount as
<br />shown by the land books for the '~sr 1957 plus aormal accretions.
<br />
<br />(from resolution O~ the Mayor) - PortsmOUth has long:neededtequalizationtof taxes on
<br />~eat p~opert¥-;-The new'-assessments can ~be corrected, when~ a mistake hss~ee~ ~m~de in
<br />fair~market.~al~e and-ma~hi~erYthasbeen~se~p.~or that ~purPose~ The-same type of
<br />relief that has been available in past years. Rather than comply with this resolution
<br />we urge those persons who feel that their assessment is unfair, to appeal to the as-
<br />sessor and then, if necessary, to the equalization Board.
<br />
<br />(from Citizens Protective~esg~e Resolution) - That the City Council immediately
<br />declare the position of City Manager vacant and to fill this position by the selec-
<br />tion of a new manager, preferably from among the citizens of this City.
<br />
<br />(from resolution of the Mayor) The City Manager has indicated his intention to
<br />retire at the age of sixty-five. That date will arrive in twelve months. The City
<br />has permitted his participation in the retirement plan and deductions have been made
<br />from his pay. At the time of his retirement, his retirement pay will be paid from
<br />the Trust Fund to which he contributed, and the $13~.00 per month retirement that he
<br />will receive, beginning May 1, 1959, has been arranged with the consent of prior
<br />Council.
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