Minutes 01/14/1958 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 14th, 1958. At a regular meeting o£ the City Council, held on January 14th, 1958, there were present: A.C. Bartlett, B. W. Baker, W.E. Hinton, Frank L. Kirby, John E. Scott, R. Irvine Smith, M. Earl Weiseman, I.G. Mass, City Manager, and J.Stanley Livesay, 9ity Attorney. The meeting was opened with prayer by Monsignor Govaert. Minutes of regular meeting of December 17th, 1957 and called meeting of December 31st, 1957, were read and approved. 58-1 - Motion of Mr. Scott to suspend the rules to hear from Mr. Thomas Bie,was adopted. Mr. Bie spoke with reference to proposed display advertising the City of Portsmouth at the Industrial Expbsition to be held at the New York Colosseum in April. Notion of Mr. Smith that the City Council approve the program as outlined, was adopted. The following reports from the City Manager were read: 58-2 - "I am submitting the attached report from the License Inspector concerning the question of a citizen of Portsmouth having purchased a Norfolk County tag for his automobile. In this connection I am also attaching no your file a report on the activities of the License Department. You will observe that there has been an increase in the sale of license tags each year for the past several years. We are maklng every effort possible ~o enforce the License Code." On motion filed. 58-3 - "I am reporting that City limits sign has been installed on Route 58 and while the sign is too large for the locatlon we expect to improve this condition by securing aew signs in the not too far distant future.'' On motion filed. 58-4 "At a previous Council meeting, I brought To your attention an article appearing tn the United States Municipal News published by the United States Conference of Mayors in which the Lease-Buy plan for constructing Federal office buildings was discussed. It was stated in the news item that municipalities might be interested in issu- ing bonds under certain conditions and then lend the mone~ to the Federal Government to build the buildings--under the Lease-Buy program. I have discussed this with other interested Managers and in our opinion if the City furnished the funds the City would non b~ eligible To assess the proper~y f~r ~ax purposes and this would to a great extent remove any benefits the City would derive by such action, unless the rate of interest paid by the Government exceeded the rate the City would have ~o pay on the bonds. There is insufficient information available at this time To base an intelligent opinion on for a recommendation. I will therefore continue my study of the question and if developments justify, I will ~eport further at a later date." On motion filed. 58-5 - "I am reporting that the State Compensation Board approved the salaries and ex - penses of the Constitutional officers in accordance with their requests." On motion filed. 58-6 - "I am reporting that a letter has been received from Col. Richard W. Copeland, Director of Public Welfare for the State of Virginia, informing me that the Attorney General had ruled that the Portsmouth Social Service Bureau could pay to the Portsmouth School Board rent for the use of the building now occupied by the Social Service Bureau." On motion filed. 58-7 - "Under the Code, the Council is requited to fix a per diem rate to be paid fo members of the Equalization Board and determine the number of days that the Board is to serve. It is in order that the Council should fix a per diem rate and determinethe number of days that the Board is to serve in this capacity." each Motion of Mr. Weiseman that members of the Equalization Board be p~id at the rate of $40.00 per day,/or $5.00 per hour~$r any part of a day~ With a limit of t~irty;days, was adopted. 58-8 I submit a letter from Senator Spong concerning a request from the detectives in the PoIce Departmenz for an amendment ro the Civil Service section of the Charter of the City. Since mailing the agenda, I have y~ceived a letter and petition from members of the Police force other than those in the Detective Bureau." The City Council stated that it was their opinion that no changes should be made in the Civil Service laws at this time. 58-9 - "I submit a resolution prepared by the City Attorney in connection with the question discussed by Council and Mr. Manbury at a recent conference and recommend that the resolution be adopted. "WHERE~kS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia recognizes that in the last few years pollution of the waters of the Harbor of Hampton Roads, its adjacent and contiguous tributary waters and beaches has become increasingly apparent and n~w presents a serious hazard To the health, welfare and eco~onLic use of both the Harboy, its tributary waters and the beaches. THEREFORE, Be it Resolved tha~ the City Clerk be directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Porter Hardy, U.S.Congressman