|
At a regular ~eeting of the City COUncil, held September 22nd,!936, at 8:00
<br />P.M., there were present:
<br />
<br /> Jo.hn P. Leigh, Leslie T. Fox, George L. Grimes, James N. Howard, W. R. Hut-
<br /> chins, F. D. &awrenee, C.~ E. Wa~en, H~ Earl Weiseman, Pearle J. Wilson,
<br /> City Manager.
<br />
<br /> Minutes of regular meeting held September 8th were read and approved.
<br />
<br /> The following communications from the City Manager were read:
<br />
<br /> let "In July, of this year, the Suoerintendent of Parks, Mr. W~L.Davis,
<br /> reported that a 6" water maih, across Bain's Creek B~ldge, supplies the fire hydrant at the
<br /> west end of the City Park Bridge, and also supplies the 2~ pipe for water service to the
<br /> buildings in the park and Olive Branch Cemetery; that the 6" main was exposed to the action
<br /> of salt water and mud, making repairs difficult.
<br /> The bridge to the Park is equipped with a draw, intended for the pas -
<br /> sage of small boats~ However,. the draw has not been opened for approximately five years. It
<br /> is, therefore, evident that the draw serves no purpose. Were the draw permanently closed and
<br /> made the same width as the bridge, traffic conditions would be greatly improved, inasmuch as
<br />~wo traffic lanes would be provided. Also, if the draw is dispensed with, it will be feasible
<br /> to lay the water main under the bridge and omi of the water, which would render it more acces-
<br /> sible for repairs.
<br /> In order to close the draw, consent of the United States Dis~triot Engi-
<br /> neer must be secured, and the application should be accompanied with a resolution of the City
<br /> Council, authorizing the. proper official to submit the application.
<br /> With the view of, later on, closing the draw and widening the bridge,
<br /> at the point of the draw, I recommend that the accompanying resolution be adopted."
<br />
<br />Resolution -
<br />
<br /> "~hereas, the City of Portsmouth owns. and maintains the draw-
<br />bridge over Bain~s Creek, used for vehicular and pedestrian traffic,
<br />to and from the City Cemetery and Park, and
<br /> Whereas, the draw has no~ been opened for approximately five
<br />years; there being no boats using the creek which can not pass under
<br />the bridge, and
<br /> Whereas, the draw on the Atlantic Co,st Line Railway trestle,
<br />crossing Bain Creek immediately above the City bridge, has been per -
<br />manen~ly closed,
<br /> Therefore~ Be it Resolved, that the City Manager be and is
<br />hereby authorized and directed to. make application to the Secretary
<br />of War, through the Chief of Engineers, U.S.A., Norfolk, Va., for the
<br />reconstruction of the bridge and the closing and discontinuance of the
<br />draw.~
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr.
<br />by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Pox to concur in the Manager's recommendation was adopted, and
<br />
<br />Ayes: Fox, Grimes, Howard, Hutchins, Lawrence, Leigh, Warren,
<br /> Weisem~u, Wilson 9 ~
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br /> 2nd - "On the subject ofparkways in Washington St., between High and Lon -
<br />don Streets, a letter was received from Reverend F. Joseph Magri, Pastor of St. Paul's Ca~ho-
<br />lic Church, dated September 12th, from which I quote the following statement:
<br /> 'in the name of the people of St. Paul~s Congre-
<br /> gation,. I respectfully send this letter of protest,
<br /> both to our Honorable City Council, and to our Hono-
<br /> rable City Manager, against the plan of removing the
<br /> said parkways."
<br /> The W.P.A. project which provides for the removal of these parkways,
<br />was approved by the Couacil on September 8th, and the work involved was authorized. However,
<br />upon receipt of the letter from the.Pastor of St. Paul's Church~ protesting, to ~he Oouncil,
<br />the removal of the parkways, it appeared to ~me that in courtesy to him and for consideration
<br />of his arguments against removal, the question should, again, be brought to the attention of
<br />the Council.
<br /> Herewith accompanying are
<br /> The letter of Rev. F. Joseph Magri.
<br /> A copy of the Manager's letter to Rev. F. Joseph Magri,
<br /> in reply to his.
<br /> A copy of the minutes of a meeting of the Traffic Com-
<br /> mission, on the subject.
<br /> A letter from the Chief of the Fire Department.
<br /> A letter from the Chief of Police."
<br />
<br />(Inclosures)
<br />
<br /> "Portsmouth, Va., Sept. 12th, 1936.
<br /> Honorable E.,B. Hawks,
<br /> City Manager,
<br /> portsmouth, Va.
<br /> Honored Sir:
<br /> Although some time ago, I made a strong protest in behalf of
<br />the nearly 3000 Catholic members of S~. Paul~s Dhurch, and, ~lthough the maZter was apparent-
<br />~ly dropped in favor of our stand, in which matter our City Manager and Council showed us every
<br />
<br />
<br />
|