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September 26th, 19~9.
<br />
<br /> representatives of theFederal Authority making preparations to test the legality and consti-
<br /> tutionality of the Federal Act creating the Authority and Enabling Act passed by the Vir -
<br /> ginia General Assembly, and further to negotiate with the City Council of the City of
<br /> mouth for the purpose of obtaining initial funds to cover legal costs and litigation, and
<br /> for the employment of technical staff for ~he purpose of drawing plans and specifications,
<br /> also to have the City Council of the City of Portsmouth to direct the City Manager and City
<br /> Attorney to draft a contract to be entered into between the local Authority and the City
<br /> Counsel complying with certain restrictions, reservations and conditions set forth in the
<br /> U.S. Housing Authority Bill, nemely the agreement on the part of the City of Portsmouth,
<br /> through its representatives, to forego the collection of taxes on the properties that would
<br /> be erected under the direction of the Housing Authority Until all indebtedness on same had
<br /> been liquidated, t;ne-$1me limi~ being fixed in the bill at sixty years°
<br /> A joint meeting of the City Council and the local Authority, together with
<br />representatives from Washington, was held in the City of Portsmouth the early part of the
<br />year, in which the details and ne c~ssary~preliminary preparations were discussed. After hav-
<br />ing progressed to this point, the zocal Authority could not proceed further until the Council
<br />had taken some definite action as heretofore mentioned, and as a result thereof, the "Sl~m
<br />Ctearanc~ Program" in Portsmouth has dragged now for over a year. - -
<br /> Your local Authority received a letter from ~Jae Eedera! Administrator in
<br />Washington, dated September 23rd, copy of which is aDtaehed hereto, which in substance ad -
<br />vises the local Authority that since the ea~markingof the funds hereinabcve mentioned for
<br />the local Authority on the 8th day of December, 1938, that the local Authority has not made
<br />formal application, and that i$ fairness to other comnunities Who ars making application for
<br />funds, that the ~ederal Authority is pr~oared to give us all possible assistance in helping
<br />us to proceed with the program, but unless some evidence is submitted to the Authority on or
<br />before Oetober 6th that we expect to definitely go ~ead ~dth t~his orogr~m, the earmarking
<br />for the local Authority will be rescinded on that date.
<br /> Your local Authority held a meeting on Monday night, September 25th,1939,for
<br />the purpose of discussing the presen~ status of the local Authority and since said~ local
<br />Authority was created by your body, based upon resolution heretofore referred to~ and that
<br />future action on the part of the local Authority, if any, depends upon yo~ body taking fur-
<br />ther action as required by the law, theAuthority authorized its Secretary to direct a commu-
<br />nication to the City Council, sending copy to the City Manager, apprising them of the present
<br />status of the Authority, and respectfully requesting that yourbody take definite action one
<br />way or another so that the local Authority will be in a position to answer the Federal Admin-
<br />istrator's communication on or before October 6th.
<br /> By direction of ~e local Authority.
<br />
<br />Respectfully submitted,
<br />
<br />HOUSIN~ AUTHORITY OF THE CITY O~ PORTSMOUTH
<br />
<br />By: Clyde We Cooper, Secretary.~
<br />
<br />On motion of Ere Hutchins, same was laid on table.
<br />
<br />The following letter was read:
<br />
<br /> "In connection with payment of delinquent taxes on various properties of the
<br />Citizens Insurance Agency, ~ find that we have been erroneously charged with a building on
<br />p~operty No. 2449 Graham St., for the years 1935 and 1~35. The building on this prooerty
<br />~as removed by vandals during~April 1933~ an~ the matter was reported to City l~nage~ And~-
<br />son under date of September 16, 1933, who re~erred the matter to the Commissioner of Revenue
<br />for correction. We have a tax statement from City Collector which shows building on this
<br />property assessed against us for years 1~35 and 1935 for $300.00. In view of the above facts,
<br />we hereby request that the Council relieve us of taxe~ on the building, (which did not exist
<br />during those years) amounting to $10.52 in 1935~ and $1Oo99 in 1935, or a total of $21.51.
<br /> Thanking you for your consideration in this matter, we a~e,
<br />
<br />Very sincerely yours,
<br />
<br />CITIZENS INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.,
<br />
<br />M.O. Lawrence~ Secretary & Treasurer."
<br />
<br />adopted.
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr~ Fox to refer to the City Attorney, with po~r to act, was
<br />
<br />The following petition was read:
<br />
<br /> "We, the undersigned citizens and taxpayers of Washington Street, this City,
<br />do hereby appeal t o you for immediate relief from the dust that has ~ecome unbearable in our
<br />homes on account of the condition of said street which has been in a torn-up state for soy -
<br />oral months. We feel sure that same is absolute negligence on the part of some one in the
<br />City Government and the racing of automobiles to and from Ball Park at night.
<br /> Hoping you will give us immediate relief, we remain,
<br />
<br />Yours respectfully,
<br />
<br />R.E. Da~s, 1106 Washington St., and numerous others.
<br />
<br />was adopted.
<br />
<br />Motion o f Mr. Fox to refer to the City Manager for report at next meeting,
<br />
<br /> Mr. McGee of W.W. Veltines Company appealed from the deeision of the Coun-
<br />cilmen affected and the City Manager, in rejecting their application for the erection of the
<br />
<br />
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