Minutes 11/08/1955 - Laserfiche WebLink

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N~r 8th, 1955. 55-285-- "Mr. Beverly Armistead, representing the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, informed me in my office on Monday, November 7th~ 19§5~ that the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company had or would ~st the State Corporation Commission for authority to charge to the subscribers the amount of license taxes levied by the cities in the State of Virginia for licenses on the telephone poles and conduit, etc. that is now being levied by-the cities against the Telephone Cc~pany. I strongly recommend~That the City oppose the action of the Telephone Company and tha~ the proper City officials be directed to use all means at the command of the City to prohibit the taxes being charged back against the subscribers~within the City limits of the City of Portsmouth." Motion of Mr. Lawrence to concur in the recommendation of the City Manager~was adopt~. 55-286 - "I am reporting that the Superintendent of the Water Department has suggested that Jo~n I~e and Emmett Bawls he employed ~o purchase the necess~ rights of way and land in connection with the development of the Nansemond and Spoight's Ru~ Dams. ~;~r.~urden also suggested that Attorney ~l%lls Godwin, of Suffolk, be retained to do whatever legal work may be necessary." Motion of ~r. Bilisoly to refer to the City ~anager and City Attorney to secure real estate agents and attorney for the acquiring of land for dams and lakes in Suffolk, was adopted. ~ 55-287 - "The Community Bus Company continues to transport passengers for compensation from one point i~ t he city to another POint, although its employees have been fined several %Jmes for violating the city ordinances. This is in violation of the contract between the City and the Portsmouth Transi.t Company, 8~d if the City pe~its the Community B~s Company re do an intracity Business itmay affect the city's right to collect the three per cen~ of the gross receipts of the Portsmouth Transit Company. It appears that placing fines against the Bus driver w~I1 not solve the prohle~ and it will be necessary to proceed against the owner of the Community Bu~ Company. I therefore requesz that I be given authority to notify'the owner of the Community Bus Campany to cease doing an intracity business with his passenger Busses within the City by the first of December, 1955, and if he fails to do so that I be authorized to instrnc~ the City Attorney to institute a proceedings to obtain a declaratory judgment and compel him to cease doing an intracity business." Motion of Mr. Bilisoly to concur in the recommendation of the CityManager was adopted~? 55-~88 - Motion of Mr. Howard that ~he Housing Authority be nQtified to continue their atudies and Dlans in regard to public housing and urban renewal projects, and to keep the Council notified step by step as they proceed, was adopted. 55-289 - ~otion of ~. Howard that the kllied Florists Association be thanked for the beautifu~ flower arrangement sen~ to the Council meeting. KEW BUSINESS 55-290 - T~e following letter from .the CommisSioner of Revenue w~s read: "Please he advised that L. A. Broughton was assessed for Tangible Personal Property valued at $1~3~0.00 with taxes amounting to $3~.85. The assessment in question pertains to a 1953 Oldsmobile Se- dan wb_ich was not owned by ~r. Broughton as of January 1, 1955. Our investigation reveals that t~e c6rr~6t auto- mobile owned by hi men January 1:1955 was a 1950 Ford Sedan and the assessment on Tibia car should'have been $410.00 with taxes mmousting to $tl.28. ~r. ~rouEhtonhas paid th~ original t~xof $38.85 as showaby his receipted tax bill #2073. As this is definitely an overpayment of $25.57, we sincerely request that a tern/id in the amount of be paid to ~lr. Broughton." 55-291 - Motion of Nr. Howard that refund be granted, was adoptedj The City Clerk ~resented the following resolution: ~WHEREAS, the City and community have suffered a great loss in the recent death of Dr. Vernon A. Brdoks, and WHEREAS, for many years, Dr. Brooks was ~ highly respected and Beloved physician, gi~ing generously of his time and energy for the relief of pain mndsuffering, and WHEREAS, in his public life, he served as Councilman and Mayor for several years, was a civic leader and recently represented the City of Portsmouth on the Eliza- beth River Tunnel Commissi~u, and WHEREAS, in the life of a city, one who has so faithfully served in many capa- cities~ and who has loved his city se devotedly, will be missed not only hy his fami- ly, friends and associates, but by the enti~e community~ BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, that this tos~ is re- gretted and mourned, but beyond thaf, we see in Dr. Brooks' passing, an oecasion to recognize publicly his worth t6 humanity and acknowledge that it will he difficult to fill the place made vacant hy his death. Be it ~ther Resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to tt~ family, that copies be given to the press and that it he spread upon the minutes of the Council of the City of Portsmouth." 55-292 - On me, ion of Nr. Bilisoly, said resolution was adopted. The following letter from the Cln~mher of Commerce wns read: It is the desire of the Chamber of Co~nerce to bring into the greatest usefulness all waterfront property within the 'City. From our city's earliest days, its economy has been closely linked with the sea. For a number o~ ye~rs~ however, we have languizhed, even though several groups and organizations have conceived and presented plans for the development of our waterfront. It is needless to recite the things that have militated against us and reduced the income derived from our waterborne commerce fram an important, to an inferior role in our city's economy. What the Chamber of Commerce is concerned with is the revival of our once prosper- ous port traffic with all of its direct and indirect Benefits to all of the citizens of our city. To spur this