first reading tonight:
<br />
<br />was adopted.
<br />
<br />The following communications fr~n the City. I~anage~ were read:
<br />
<br />let ~I would like for the following ordinance to be placed on i ts
<br />
<br />~AN ORDi~A~CE t~POSING AND COLLECTIEG TAXES ON
<br /> TANGIBLE PERSON~ PROPERTY AND i£~CHIIfERY, E~I~THi~I THE LIIIITS
<br /> OF THE CITY OF PORTS~OtITH, VIRGIIfiA~ FOR THE PD-RPOSE OF RAIS-
<br /> ING REVENUE FOR THE SP-PPOR~ OF THE GOVE~I~ENT ~D THE PUBLIC
<br /> ~-IREE SCHOOLS AND TO PAT iNTEREST AND SIh~K!NG FUND ON THE PUBLIC
<br /> DEBT FOR THE ~VEAR BEGIN~Ih~G JANUARM 1st, 19~.
<br />
<br /> Notion of l~Rr. l~eimeman to place said ordinance on its first reading,
<br />
<br /> ~nd - ~At our regular meeting o~ December 10th, I read you a letter
<br />advising that I h~d requested the Fire Department to check on hotel buildings in o~ City,and
<br />on December BOth, the Chief of the Fire Department and Chief of the Fire P~evention Bureau
<br />submitted the attached lette~.
<br /> It is my suggestion that we ask ou~ representatives in the
<br />General Assembly to introduce adequate legislation that ~_ll not only pmotect ou~ citizens
<br />~t with sufficient teeth that will enable it to function properly,"
<br />
<br /> ~otion of Nr. Weiseman to refer to the City Nanager, Fire Chief and
<br />Mr. Carl ~o. ell fo~ further investigation, was adopted.
<br />
<br />Inclosure '2nd'
<br />
<br /> "In accordance with you~inat~uctmons' we a~e submitting a report on the
<br /> buildings used as hotels in our City.
<br /> Due to the type of construction of these buildings we believe that
<br />the~e is a great possibility of a nt~nber of persons being killed or injured i~e a ~ire should
<br />gain headway before it is discovered.
<br /> The buil~ing occupied b~ the new Portsmouth Hotel is const~acted of
<br />fire resistant material, and is equipped with inclosed stairway and fire ala~n stations and
<br />bell located on each floom.
<br /> All of the other hotel buildings a~e of ~ick and frame construction
<br />with open~ staiz-~ays? and a~e not equipped with s~y type of fire alaEn other than telephone.
<br />There a~e no fire stops in these buildings. The many open spaces .in between the walls and
<br />floors, and the open stairwells will allow fire and smoke t~ travel rapidly through the build-
<br />lng.
<br /> As these buildings were consB~ucted before the present building code
<br />was placed in effect, Decembem llth, 1923, the Code does not apply to them. The building Code
<br />states as follows:
<br />
<br /> Section ~l of Article#l. Administration.
<br /> That the Building Code of the City of Portsmouth, V~ ,1918 is hereby
<br />revised ani approved and the following provisions constitute the Building Code of Portsmouth,
<br />Va., and provide for alt matters which affect and relate to the const~action, alteration, re
<br />pair, removal or occupancy of any and all structLt~es emected or to be ereeped in the said City
<br />providing however, that in case a permit has been issued for the constr~ctmon, alteration, re-
<br />pair, ~emoval or o~cupancy of a structure ~rew~ous t~ the time this ordinance takes effect and
<br />work is ¢o~enced before the expiration of suchpermztt,-the provisions of law and ordinance in
<br />effect when such permit was g~anted shall govern.
<br /> U~Lless existing structures a~e specifically mentioned, the provisions
<br />of t~is Code shall apply only to the struct?~es hereafter erected, altered or repaired.(End of
<br />quote).
<br /> However, if an ordinance can be passed ~equiring hotels occupying
<br />buildings, not of fire resistant oonstmuction, to be equipped with an automatic sprinkler and
<br />fire alarm system with ala~mb ells located on each floor, and requiring a watchman or house
<br />detective to be on duty at all times in every hotel, this watchman or house detective should
<br />be required to visit each floor in the building at least once every hour, and a record of each
<br />visit recorded on a time clock with keys located on each floor, we feel that tim spread of
<br />fire would be gmeatly retarded by the sprinkler system, ~nd $he automatic fire alarm system
<br />and watchman would detect the fire before it had gained ~ny g~eat amotuut o f headway.
<br /> This will not eliminate the spread of smoke and gases throughout the
<br />building, this can only be done by a general reconstruction of the interior of the buildings,
<br />and as stated before, our present building code does not pe~nit us to make such requirement.
<br /> · e hope that the City Council c~ find some way to change ou~ pres-
<br />ent laws so that these hazards can be corrected. ~¥e ~ealize the g~eat danger that is involved
<br />in fighting fires in this class c~ building, andw realize that ~ar city is no different from
<br />any other, Disaster in the fo~m of a hotel 2i~emay strike at any time.
<br />
<br /> Respectfully yours,
<br />
<br /> W. B. Sykes, Chief, Fi~e Department
<br /> ~K. L. Host, Ohief, Fire Prevention Bureau.=
<br /> 3rd - ~I was advised today by ott~ engineers who are working up the
<br />cost on the underpass at the Belt ~ine mud High Street., that the figures can not be completed
<br />in time for the Gouncil meeting tonight.
<br /> They hate adviser us that they will be ready on Jar~a~y 14th
<br />and will be submitted to you a t that time."
<br />
<br />On motion ordered filed.
<br />
<br />
<br />
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