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February 25th, 1958,
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Weiseman to refer to the City Manager for investigation and report, was
<br />adopted.
<br /> 58-66 - Tke following resolution from Disabled American-Veterans was read:
<br /> "WHEREAS, the Disabled American Veterans Organization is a corporate body, and
<br /> WHEREAS, said corporation has adopted a constitution, by-laws and regulations
<br /> to carry on its purposes, and
<br /> WHEREAS, its purposes, as set forth in its constitution, among other things, ~s
<br /> to advance the interests and work £or the betterment of all injured and disabled
<br /> veterans; to serve our comrades, our commnities and our country; and to encourage
<br /> zn all people that spirit of understanding which will guard against future wars, and
<br /> · ¢HEREAS, pursuant to its by-laws and regulations certain fund-raising projects are
<br /> permitted and the proceeds therefrom used to finance and carry forth the purposes of
<br /> the Organizatinn, and
<br /> WILEREAS, these fund-raising projects are limited in number, strictly controlled
<br /> and conducted on the h~hest possible plane, and
<br /> WHEREAS, certain unscrupulous peddlers and salesmen, without any authority from
<br /> the Disabled American Veterans Organization whatsoever, have been appearing in our
<br /> community from rime to time and holding themselves forth as representatives of the
<br /> Disabled American Veterans Organization and as selling something in behalf of said
<br /> Organization, and
<br /> WHEREAS, such action b~ said peddlers or salesman is unauthorized; is a violation
<br /> of the law, and is injurious to the. Disabled American Veterans Organizations and
<br /> the purposes of sai~ organizations,
<br /> BE I%THEREFORE RESOLVED, That the Disabled American Veterans Chapter number thir-
<br /> teen, twenty-two and twenty-seven, Portsmouth, Virginia, Chapter number twenty-six,
<br /> South Norfolk, Virginia, and Chapter numberforty-one, Cradock, Virginia, go on rec-
<br /> ord as opposing the acts of such unscrupulous ~mpersonators and request the Board
<br /> of Supervisors of the County~ of Nor£olk, Virginia, the City Council of the City of
<br /> Portsmouth, Virginia and the City Council of the City of South Norfolk, Virginia,
<br /> to enact such legislation as may be necessary to prohibit, restrain and punish
<br /> those whov~ongfull~ hold themselves out as representing the Disabled American Veter-
<br /> ans. Louis D. Dilda, Chairman, Resolutions Committee."
<br />
<br /> Motion of M~r. W~iseman to refer to the Cit~ Attorney, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> 58-87 - The following letter from the West Side Civic Club was read:
<br />
<br /> "The West Side Civic Club would like. to again call your attention to a condition in Kin
<br /> man Heights and adjacent areas that demands immediate action, This~ is, the urgent need for curbs, gutters and
<br /> drainage. The City Council has been informed of this~need.bothb~ ~etition and by personal requests. During the
<br /> recent snow and rains, water has been standing in the gutters, causing much inconvenience to the residents. We
<br /> strongly urge that action be taken to afford relief, to residenSs of this area. We protest action on any other pr
<br /> ject in the City of Portsmouth before the curbs, gutters and drainage are given, which were promised when this
<br /> area was annexed. Seeking action, we would like to know when.a pro~ect of this nature could be started. Robert O. Taylor, Pres~den .
<br />
<br />adopted.
<br />read:
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr. Smith that this matter he included in the proposed Capital Budget, was
<br />
<br />58~68 - The following letter ~rom the West Side and Westhaven Park Civic League, was
<br />
<br /> "This is a follow-up of our leiter to you dated January 22, 1958, requesting that the
<br />payment of water bills be allowed at the banks and at certain stores.
<br /> We would like to ~nswer some of the objections to this proposal which were raised by
<br />the City Collector and City Attorney:
<br /> 1. 'I do not believe any outside agency can be given the right ~o give
<br /> receipts for City £unds.
<br /> This being public £unds - if it is legal £or the state and county to allow
<br /> outside agencies to collect fees for dog and hunting licenses, then how
<br /> can it be illegal for the City to allow collection of public funds (water
<br /> bills)?
<br /> 2. 'If any agency could be given this right, of course we would have ~o pay
<br /> them a fee, which I doubt can he. legally done.'
<br /> If you do not find a law saying it is illegal to pay fees to collect
<br /> public funds. We believe City Council has lh~ power to accept our proposal
<br /> unless it is found to be illegal.
<br /> 3. 'The basic problem, ~n my~opinion, is that this additional method of col-
<br /> lection will add to the cos~ of furnishing water and sewage to all citi-
<br /> zens by providing an accommodation which all the citizens will not use.
<br /> ~nless an additional fee is charged for payments made under the proposed
<br /> plan to compensate for its additional, cost, I anticipate ¢he City will
<br /> become involved in litigation.'
<br />
<br /> We have assurance from the~jority~of lhose who now collect the telephone, gas and
<br />electric bills that the fee will act exceed five cents per bill. It was stated by the City Manager that the
<br />City will gain an additional es$imated revenue o£ $~53,994.80 forthe adjusted upward water rate, and a~ addi -
<br />tional estimated revenue of $25,000. for sanitary sewer connections, which means that the City is receiving an
<br />additional estimated revenue of $178,004.80 from the users of water for the fiscal year 1957--58. The Council
<br />adopted the ordinance for this. additional revenue which we, the.water users, are now paying; whereas we are ask-
<br />ing for a very small return on our monies being paid for water and sewerage services. If every customer of the
<br />Water Department rook. advantage of our proposal to pay bills ar banks and stores, the most it would cost the City
<br />a~ five cents per bill would be $1000. per quarter, based on an estimated 20,000 customers.
<br />
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