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<br />Ma.v lCth. 1.~.9=7~5_,
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<br /> At a regular meeting of the City Council, held on May lhth, 1935, at 8:00
<br />there were presenT:
<br />
<br /> Vernon A. Brooks, Leslie T. Fox, W.R.Hutchins, B.B. Moore, J. Alden Cast,
<br /> J.R. Stewart, the City Manager.
<br />
<br /> Vice Pre'sident J.R. Stewart in the Chair.
<br /> Minutes of regular meeting of April 23rd. were read and aooroved as amended.
<br /> The following communications from the City Manager were ~e~d:
<br />
<br /> 1st - "The contract between the City and the Virginia .Electric and Power Company
<br />has been signed and payment of the $95,990.00 has been received."
<br />
<br />On motion ordered filed.
<br />
<br /> 2nd - "The League of Virginia Municipalities was founded in 1905 and the City of
<br /> Portsmouth was among its first members. Therefore, the City has had ample opportunity to ad-
<br /> Judge its merits and appraise the quality .and value of its service. While there is, within
<br /> our files, a volume of data to substantiate ~ argument in its favor, at the same time, I
<br /> feel it unnecessary to present, herein facts with which you are already acquainted.
<br /> However, in connection with the petition to increase the City's dues to
<br />$~50.00, ~s~all call to attention these facts. During the past five years, the League has
<br />operated on a budget of $20,O00.O0, one half of which was furnished from dues of the cities
<br />and towns, and one half from a grant from the Spelman Fund. At the time that the grant was
<br />made, the Executive 0ommittee of the Lea~me agreed to endeavor to continue the activities at
<br />the termination of the grant. Therefore, the purpose of the increase in dues is to meet the
<br />$$0,OO0.00 annually, heretofore supplied through the Soelman Fund, and continue the activi-
<br />ties heretofore carried on. Now, the Spelman Fund authority agrees to contribute $10,000.O0
<br />a year for the next three years and $5,000.00 a year for two years thereafter, provided The
<br />League supplies an additional amount equal to that heretofore contributed by the Spelman Fund
<br />viz; $10,OO0.00 annually.
<br /> Also one of the Rockefeller Foundations has made a grant through the Amer-
<br />ican Municipal Association to the State Municipal League of $3,500.00., which means that for
<br />every $200.00 which cities and towns appropriate for this year, at least, the Virginia League
<br />will receive $1.35 in addition~to the Spelman Fund Grant.
<br /> You will recall the statement made by Mr. Wallerstein that all cities and
<br />towns above 5000 population had agreed to the revised schedule of dues except Hampton, Rca -
<br />noke and Portsmouth. I am now advised, by Mr. Wallerstein, that Hampton and Roanoke have
<br />agreed to the increase.
<br /> Upon a careful review of the situation and the work which the League is
<br />doing, and havi-ng in mind the service to this City available through that medium, I arrive at
<br />the conclusion that this Oity should co-operate with other cities and towns of the State in
<br />maintaining the League upon a most efficient basis and to that end, I recommend an appropria-
<br />tion of SkO0.OO, to bring the dues up to $~50.00 for this year,"
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Brooks
<br />City to the League up to $~50.00,
<br />lowing vote:
<br /> Ayes: Brooks,
<br /> Nays: Oast.
<br />
<br />that the City appropriate $$00.00 to bring the dues of the
<br />as recommended by the Manager~ was adopted, and by the fol-
<br /> if it can be done without increasing the budget-,
<br />Fox, Hutchins, Moore, Stewart
<br />
<br /> 3rd - "Although definite information regarding the allocation of the four billion,
<br />eight hundred million dollars of Relief funds, has not yet been forthcoming, indications are
<br />that applications for funds and their distribution will be subject to the approval of State
<br />and City Planning Commissions.
<br /> The last session of the General Assembly passed an enabling act,-which
<br />sets forth the conditions under which cities may initiate Planning'Commissions. The Act au-
<br />thorizes a Commission of from five to seven, of whom not less than one nor more than three
<br />are to We ex-officio administrative officers.
<br /> Such Comm~sion will serve without compensation, and in em advisory capa-
<br />city, and will not infringe upon legislative or administrative prerogatives of the City gor-
<br />e rnment.
<br /> ~rom a civic viewpoint, a Planning Commas ion is desirable and indica -
<br />tions are that such a commission may be essential in order that the City may secure full ben-
<br />efits under the pend&ng Federal program.
<br /> Therefore, I recommend that the City Attorney and City Manager be autho-
<br />rized to formulate anordinance creating a Planning Commission f~r the City of Portsmouth, in
<br />conformity with the State enabling act."
<br />
<br />Motion of Mr. Rrooks ~o concur in the recommendation of the Manager, was adopted.
<br />
<br />The following communication from the City Attorney was read:
<br />
<br /> "At your meeting, held May 22nd, 1935, you referred to me a letter from Stern-
<br />heimer Brothers, Inc., requesting a refund of $21.00 on the merchants license paid by it for
<br />the year 1933 on business conducted at l!4 High St., known as the Navy Store.
<br /> Sternheimer Brothers, Inc., paid a license tax of $~6.O0 in t933 based on a
<br />rental value of $~5.O0 per month, and contends that the t~x should have been $68.00, based on
<br />a' rental~value of $50.00 per month.
<br /> When the matter was referred to me, I made an investigation an~ found that the
<br />license was obtained by the local manager after the notice had been served uponhim by the
<br />License I~s~ector. The rent was based on the same amount as returned for 1932. Later, a reD-
<br />resentative of the company saw Mr. Walton and stated that the amount was given i~ error an~
<br />he referred him to the City Council. After the matter was referred to me, the City Collector
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