Minutes 01/08/1957 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Januaw~ 8th. 195~. a~d read: "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND RE-ORDAIN SECTION 16-9 OF ARTtCLEtt OF CHAPTER 16 OF THE CODE OF TILE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH- OF 1951, RELATING TOBUS ROUTES" On motion of ~Lr. Scott, said ordinance was adopted, and by the following vote: Ayes: Bartlett, Baker, Hinton, Kirby, Scott, Smith, Weiseman Nays: None 56-389 - The following ordinance, placed on first reading at last meeting, was taken up "AN ORDINANCE TO ISSUE THREE HUNDRED THouSAND DOLLARS OF BONDS OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, TO BE KNOWN AS OFF- STREET PARKING BONDS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUYING LAND AND PAVING AIfD INSTALLING THEREON PARKING EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR OFF-STREET AUTOMOBILE P~kRKING FACILITIES, MAKING PROVISION FOR .THE FOP~ OF SAID BONDS AND FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF" Motion of Mr. Smith that the ordinance for the issuance: Of $300,000.00 Off-Street Parking1 Bonds, which was placed on first reading, be ~mended to make the place of paymeni of the bonds and coupons to read: "At the office of the City Auditor in the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, and at the American National Bank, of Portsmouth, Virginia" was adopted. On motion of Mr. Hinton, said ordinance as amended, wa~ adopted and by the following vote: Ayes - Baktl~t~,Baker, ~inton, Kirby, Scott, Smith, Weiseman Nays - None Motion of Mr. Rinton that the City Manager be authorized to advertise for bids locally for the sale of these bonds, was adopted. Motion of Mr. Kirby that the previous action of the City Council on the sale of the bonds be rescinded and that the sale of the bonds be referred 'to the Mayor an~ City Manager to negotiate a sale, was adopted. - NEW BUSINESS 57-18 - The following letter from the Commissibner of Revenue was read: "Please be advised that Edward L. Brooks has been assessed for tangible personal property valued for SSlS0.O0 with taxes amounting to $59.95 plus penalties' and interest of $3.00 making a total amount of $6~.95. The assessment in question pertains mo an a~tomobile. Our~ investigation shows ghat car wa~ not owned by him on January l, 1955. The taxpayer has p~id the original tax of $59.95 plus $3.00 as evidenced by his receipte, bill #2037. As thi~ is definitely an erroneous assessment, we sincerely request that a refund in the amount of $62.95 be made to the taxpayer." Motion of Mr. Kirby that refund be granted, was adopted. 57-19 - The following letter from the Portsmouth Humane Society' was read: "The Portsmouth Humane Society has been operhting in this come, unity since May 9, 1947, and since its organization, has been operating on funds raised by membership dues, the sale of pencils once a year, rummage sales, Rabies Clinic, sponsoring A~l-Breed Dog Shows and contributions of friends to the upkeep of the Shelter. The land was purchased in, October, 1947% with a gift of $500.00 and $1S0.00 taken from its own funds, and in 1949 the Shelter was built with $2,000.00 borrowed from the parent Humane Association and $1,000.00 raised among friends of animals; the cost of the building being $3,000.00. The equipment inthe Shelter w~s purchased with funds contributed or raised by various projects. In 1948, the City was requested to assist in'this work and the Society was granted $500.00 annually by the City. This was the only municipal aid we had received over these years until in July of this year, after continuous effort, the County paid us $50~.00 and agreed to pay $500.00 annually for our service~ mn the County.When we first started, the work was done by volunteers, even to the shelter work. Much of the work is still done by volunteers. Even with this volunteer help we accomplished much work with the ~nimals of Portsmou- Our ; records will show that much more and better work has been done by this Eociety than by your local Wardens and the City Pound. We have been the means of improving the cbnditions of your local Dog Pound'- we have been the means of more license tags being sold (and your local Treasurer's records will bear mhis out) - better care of the animals and the work of the Society has improved the health conditions of your City by keepiog sick and stray animals off the streets of Portsmouth. Much of our work can not and will not be done by your ~ardens. In a great many instances your Wardens have called on the Society to help themcatch difficult animals - females in season for example - and their only method of catching mhese animals was by shotting them. In many instances, this proved to be reckless shooting, only injmrmng the'animal and in many cases it p~oved dangerous to human beings. We have dog and cat traps which are used and various other equipment for humane treatment of animals. Your Pound is~no~ equipped to handle unwanted cats or other nnwanted animals-only dogs. Our records show that for the past eleven months of this year, 1498 dogs, 1247 cats and ll0 various other crea- tures have been cared for in our Shelter and by nut Society.~ One Huidre~ seventeen female dogs and cats have been spayed before going into new homes - one can see where this alone has been of great help in this community. All this work has been accomplished for the past nine years with only a small amount of income. The ociety is now giving your community a service it has never had before, but w~ have reached a point where it will be impos- sible to continue ~o give this service unless we are able ro recemve more help from the ~ity. Without the services of the Humane Society, the same unhealthful conditions will prevail as they were nine years ago. The City of Norfolk contributes $4~000.00 to their local SPCA; Richmendreceives a considerable contribution from the City of Richmond, plus $25,000.00 from mrs Community Chest (a~nually); Arlington County Humane Socmety has the pound contract and receives therefor the sum of $25,000.00 annually; Alexandria SPCA has the same contract. Our expenses this year will exceed $8;~00.00 and 'our income will no~ be sufficient to cover this expense. At pre- sent we have three paid employees at the Animal Shelter. They remain with the work because of their love for and the welfare of the animals and wanting to make Portsmouth proud of the Animal Shelter.