Minutes 08/23/1955 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 23, 1955. the City Co~ncil, new ~ing precincts wittktn wards, when the total number of registered v~ters in any given precinct becomes more than fifteen hundred. In Pertsm~uth, as of ~he recent July 12th Democratic Primary Election, Washington ~'~rd had seventeen hundred and fifty four registered v~ters, Tyler Ward had sixteen hundred and seven r~gisterod voters, and the Second Proc~inct, Wilson ward had fifteen hundred and eighty registered voters. These three wards fall clearly within the · premise of the law as quoted above, and in the case o£ Washington and Tyler wards, should be divided into two prpcincts. The Board is of the opinion that a continuance of the 'present situation would be a violation of Virginia Election Laws, and that the City of portsmouth could be ex- posed to considerable embarrassment thereby. The second situation concerns W~ilson Ward which, as you know, is presently divided inzo two precincts. However, as noted above, the Second Precinct of Wilson Ward ~is large enough to be revised, whereas the FirSt Precinct ef Wilson Ward has only five hundred sixty-two ~registered voters. The vious solution te this prnblem is to rediv~deWilson Ward, reducing the number of voters, in the Second Precinct and increasing the number in the First Precinct. This would net only bring the number of registered voters within the law, but would eliminate the obvious disparity in responsibilities and obligations encumbent upon the Election officials concerned. ~e further situation should be noted. In Harris~ Ward, there are az the present time fourteen ~undred and thirty seven registered voters. While this number is net great enough to re- qumre any action, it is so close that t~e ~eumcil might deem it werSchY ef attention az the same time as the other wards~ Portsmouth Electoral Board requests that the City Ceuncil take the ear~:~ · · situations. In this cennectien~ your attentzon ls called t(~ a left liest possible actxon to correct these ~ ~ ~ ~a~ ,~n ich ne action has been taken. Any chang s the Electoral Beard to the Czty Councxl, dated August m., .... , _~__ wh which are made will require a great deal ef time consuming work ~n the part ortho General Registrar, so that early action is necessary if the law is te be complied with in time fez the forthcoming November elections. Please be assured that the Electoral Board stands ready to assist in any way possible in correcting these def~e~s, and asks that it be called upon, should it be able te render any Motion elintr. Hawks t~at a committee he appointed to work with the Elec- toral Board, in establishing precinc~ lines, was adopted. The Chair appointed the following Committee: ~essrs. Baker, Hawks, Howard and Grimes. 55-212 - "I am reporting the resignation of Gwyn Fletcher, DirSc~or of Recreation, effective September ~6', 1955, and t~e appointment ef Earl Agnor to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Fletcher's resignation, en a six months probationary period." On motion filed. 55-213 - "I submit the attache~etter from the portsmeut,h, Redevelopmemt and H~s~ ing Authority for y~ur consideration. You also have a copy 6f this letter before you. Attached - "Since the rejectiom by the Council of proposed plans for a Civic Center, your Autho- rit}r has marked time as t~ further slum clearance and redevelopment ~plans tha~ have been under consideration. This planning is necemsary if the C{ty is to continue to benefit from aid that can he obtained threugk Federal assistance available ~e muni~ipalities, far the purpose of cleanimg up slums and deteriorated a~eas and te put A present instance is the appeal made te Council for parking areas urgently needed in she downtown business section. In this case, we call to yeur attention that the proposed Civic Center and par~ing area plans as s~bmitted by the Authority, in January, 1953, which were based on surveys and recommenda- tions of planning engineers employed by the City for that purpose, and by the Autherity~S engineer, were demigne~ to meet suc~ needS. The four slum clearance housing projects consisting of 1575 units when Ida Barbeu~ Park is completed, which have been planned mud built under the direction of the Authority: at a total coS~ ef $13,425~000. have greatly, improved living c~di%ions, and . it. is confidently., c~hibel~eds~*s'~t~m~'~I~that they will~ ~P~i~gcentimue'tte~ im rove' these living cendlfiens among that c~ass of our c~tlze, ns need~g~su a the be~s~ metnoa_e.i=_.~m___xmn~g~.~ +~ ~e~e. T~-centinuance of the program, we fee~, should n*t be halted. It ls.a fact that Portsmouth also has benefited ~inancially from the developments obtained ~hrough the Authority, as ms shown hy the following amount paid to the City in lieu of taxes. The amount is far in excess ef that received as taxes on the same property before the projects were built: Fr~m 1941 th~u 1954 $352,518.51 On Slum Clearance projects 279,242.71 On leased projects Tot al $631,759. ~2 The Commissioners feel that it iS their bounden duty to_urge_the Council to give consideration to the importance of continuing mo receive beneficial aid that can be obtained for the City l~y participation in the Federal Ge~vernment '~ program~to ~mp~.eve u at~enti~n t e the gre~t benefit that~ has aoc~ed to our sms~er um~Y om merx~, ~ ...... . - opportunities offered ~uder the Federal Government program. A $5,90B~000. program for the C'ity ef Roanoke has just been approved. Also, in Richraond and Alexandria, sl~m clearance and redevelopmen~ plates are receiving ap - provat. The purpose of this communication is to request the Council that due consideration be given these matters, as it is~ly through a Redevelopment and Housing Authority, created for that Specific purpose, that financial aSSistance ~e which the City of Portsmouth is entitled, can be secured. SuchL~thority must have the co operation and support *£ the Council to advantageously carry out such a program. Hnder the circumstances, the Co~issieners of ~he Pertsraeuth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, feel that it is impor- tant and necessary that the desire efthe Council be made known to ~hem as to the continuance of its ~lum Clear- ance and Redevelopment program. In view ef the above, and in order that the best interests of Portsmouth be served, we invite the Council to meet with the Commissioners ef the Authority at the earliest convenient date, ~e review the advantages te be gained by continuing the Autherity's program ~f planning."