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September 8th, 1953
<br />
<br />Your attention is invited to the following quoted article of the Virginia
<br />Election .Laws, re wit:
<br />
<br />'~'24~25 COUNCILS OF CITIES TOESTABLISH. The Council of a City shall establish
<br /> for each ward am many election districts as it may deem B~eessary, and a voting
<br /> place in each district. Such districts shall be established so that there
<br /> shall not be less than one election district for every ere thousand voters or
<br /> fractional part thereof above five hundred. The Council shall prescribe ~nd
<br /> cause to be published the boundaries of the districts. It m~y alter the boun-
<br /> daries of any such-election district, and re-arrange, increase, or diminish the
<br /> number thereof, and change the voting places or.establish others therein, not
<br /> to exceed, however, one voting place for each election district. No chan~e~'shall
<br /> be made in any of the boundaries or voting places within thirty days next pre-
<br /> -ceding any general election.'
<br />
<br />It is not the purpose of the Electoral Board to recorm~end any changes in
<br />outside Ward boundaries, with any resultant chances in representation on City
<br />Council. The Board does feel, however, that theabove changes would better
<br />serve the voting public, and make better use of the working time of Election
<br />Officials.
<br />
<br />It is contemplated that from time to 'time the Board will make such recommenda-
<br />tions as it.deems necessary, in order that elections in this city may be con -
<br />ducted in the mc~ efficient manner, within the limits of the law.
<br />
<br /> The present voting places in Wilson Ward, First and Second Precincts, are not
<br />-.~diSturbed by the suggested changes in precinct ~ines. In Washington Ward,
<br /> the present voting place could, and the Board so recommends, remain as the
<br /> voting place for the ~econd~precinct. It is further recommended that_the Port
<br /> No~rfotk Schoo~ which lies in the are~-herein suggested as the First Precinct
<br /> of Washington Ward, be the voting place for that precinct. It is the present
<br /> custom of the Etectoral~Boardto use schools where possible, for votin~ places,
<br /> and3this policy is concurred in by the Superintendent of Scho61s. The Board
<br /> suggests that if the above e~nges are affected, they~become effective on
<br /> January 1, 1954."
<br />
<br />adopted.
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr. Howard to refer to a committee for st~.udy and recommendation, was
<br />
<br /> Th~ Chair appOinted't-he following committee: Messrs..~,Huward and Houghton.
<br />
<br /> 5th - '~t the Council meeting held on August llth, 1953, you referred to me the re -
<br />quest of W. T. Parker, representing the- Retail GFocers concerning the relief-of paying a $5.00 meat permit which
<br />is now in effect. - ·
<br /> I have investigated this matter an~fi~d {hat the ordinance has been on the
<br />books of the City of Portsmouth since June 17, 1919~ Section ~5-18 and Section ~5-19 is the law under which the
<br />Director of P~btie ~ea-lthrequires the. per,it. TheCode section covers the operation and conduct of slaughter
<br />houses, abbatoirs, packing houses, sausage plants and rendering houses, as well as those who bring or send meat
<br />or meat products into the City for sale or to have in possession with intent to sell any such prod~cts unless a
<br />permit has first been issued by the Health Department of the City. The fee for the permit is $5.00 per year.
<br /> Since the'~SectioR Of the Code~is in)~he--Ch~pter concerning public health,I
<br />am of the opinio~ that it was enacted-at the request of the Health Department and if the Code should be:amended,
<br />it should not in anyway-~weaken the inspection requi~ed.
<br /> Mr. Parker called to the attention of the-Council at the Council meeting~that
<br />hotels, and restaurants-and some other establishmentswere not required to secure-the permit. The reason for
<br />th~s is that~he establ~shments~ that h9 enumerated dO'ROt sell fresh uncooked, meats. The ordinance and permit
<br />apply only to those estab~s .ments -that sell raw or-uncooked perishable mears.-X-do nor recommend that the ordi-
<br />nance be repealed, providing for the inspection, nor that the section providing for a fee of $5.00 ar the present
<br />time. If3when the-:budget is being prepared for the fiscal year beginning July-1, 1954, it can be balanced without
<br />the funds, then I would have no objection to the~repeal~of-.that portion pertaining to the permit fee."
<br />
<br /> On, motinn iiled~ -
<br />
<br /> 6th - '~'~ have given much thought and time since ~.have.been employed by the City of
<br /> Portsmouth to the question of a suitable and adequate par~ system for the use of the citizens of Portsmouth and
<br /> our surrounding areas. I am of the opinion that there is not another city in the UnitedStates with a population
<br /> of 80,000 that does nor boast of ~a~system of'parks much greater than anything we have at the present time.
<br /> Since the closing of the Glensheallah Golf course we only have a very small
<br /> area that we eau-use for park purpose~ At the City Park; i~additio~-to the ~olf course, there is only ~ smal
<br />
<br /> The City ~as a number~of fairly adequate playgrounds for the smaller children
<br /> but no adequate park fo~-~enera-1 recreation and~ntert~in~ent ~ ~'haveJ~gobd reason to believe that a number of 3.the
<br /> Civic Clubs, Garden clubs.and other clubs and organizat~s would be interested in making substantial contribu-
<br /> tions · or providing facilities for a suitable park. We have been requested by. a ~roup interested in a s~%ll zoo to
<br /> provide sp~ce for their activities.
<br /> The City of Portsmouth owns the farm known ~s the Alms House.Farm, containing
<br />approximately 135 acres and this property is not in use other th~n approximately four 'acres occupied by a small
<br />school building now being used ~y Norfo~ County. I recommend that the City establish a system of parks, beginning
<br />with the City Alms House Farm. For the immediate present, I recommend ~that an appropmiation of $10,080.00 be
<br />placed on first reading., for the purpose of grubbing, clearing, and sedding the ~it'y ~rm to place it in such con-
<br />dition that it can b9 plan~ed for park use and that immed%ate steps be taken to acquire additional landsJ~;Ithin a
<br />reasonable distance of 'the City of Portsmouth that can 'be developed in future years for additional parks."
<br />
<br /> ~otion of Mr. Smith to place an appropriation of $10,000.00 for said purpose, on
<br />first reading, was adopted.
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