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attempted'to get the amotmt of rent from the landlord, but was unsuccessful. I then wrote
<br />to the company stating that I could not pass upon the matter without some :tangible evidence
<br />of the amount of rent and stated that if I should be ftwnished with the lease for the period
<br />that I would considar the matter further.
<br /> Recently, I received the attached letter from mr. Julian L. Lawrence, attorney
<br />for the owner of the property, stating that the rent during 1933 was $50.00 per month. The
<br />comoany states that the local manager was in error when he obtained the license and based
<br />the-amount on the previous year~s license. If you believe the evidence sufficient, Stern-
<br />heimer Brothers, Inc. is entitled to receive a refund of ~21.O0.~
<br /> Motion of Mr. Fox to concur in the recommendation of the Attorney, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> The following ordinance, presented by the City Attorney was, on motion of Mr.
<br />Fox, placed on first reading:
<br /> _ :~tAN..ORDIN~A~..OE~ANTHORIZING THE BORROWING OF THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
<br /> · DOLLAR~; IN ANTICIPATION OF' THE REVENUE .FOR 1935, AND PROVIDING FOR THE
<br /> ISSUA~NCE OF A NOTE OR ~OTES THEREFOR."
<br />
<br />UNFINISHED BUSINESS -
<br />
<br /> The monthly re~ort of the Accou~_~ing Department, for April, was presented,, and
<br />ordered filed.
<br />
<br /> Re~ort of City Collector showing difference between Treasurer's account and
<br />the banks for~April, ~935, was presented and ordered filed.
<br /> - NEW BUSINESS-
<br />
<br /> · ~ The-following letter wa~s ~ead, ~nd referred to the ~I'ty Attorney:
<br />
<br /> ~Nr. Charles F. Haroer requested me ~o formally notify you that his tender of
<br />payment of the sum of Twelve Hundred Dollars($1200.O0) to the City Collector in ~ayment of
<br />balance due on taxes on real estate due to said City has been refused by the ~aid City Col-
<br />lector and that hi~ tax receipts are wrongfully withheld by the said 0ity Collector.
<br /> mr. Harper has placed this money in a separate fund for payment at .any time
<br />that same will be accepted and expeQts to again make a tender of same to the ~aid City Col-
<br />lec$or.
<br />
<br />Very truly yours,_
<br />
<br />Lawrence W. I~Anson.~
<br />
<br /> UIn ~he S_.uing of 1926, J.H. Sykes andF.E. Wilder entered into an agreement
<br />with the City, providing ~hat.they install sidewalks, curbs and gutters on the streets of
<br />their West Park View development, according to plans and specifications furnished by the
<br />CityEngineer; the work to be supervised by his department at a c~st of $7500.00. The City
<br />agreed to reimburse Sykes and Wilder for the cost of curbs and. gutters (which cos~ was
<br />$3150.00) when taxatile values Justified.
<br /> At the time Sykes and Wilder took over this land it was being used as farm
<br />land, and there was one house located on the tract. The assessed value at that time wac
<br />$1~,OOO.00.
<br /> Today, there are thirty-seven modern homes in this development, with an
<br />assessed valuation of SEOO,000.OO for houses and land, which yields in taxes each year more
<br />than $5~000,00.
<br /> ~hese values were directly brought about by th~ expenditure of more than
<br />$50,000.QO by the owners of the tract, to bring it to its present state, and the City of
<br />Portsmouth is~ the only beneficiary up to this time, as the owners have never received one
<br />penny return on their investment - all money received from sale of lots going to pay taxes
<br />and in improvements.
<br /> Taxable values were crea~ed fha% ~ustified the return of this money within
<br />two years after the improvements were made. Members of the Council and City Manager alike
<br />agreed to that fact, but we were told there were no fLmds available to pay for ~tree.t im-
<br />provements.
<br /> There are funds available now which are to be used for that purpose, and
<br />we respectfully request that we be paid the amount d~e us, at this time.
<br />
<br />Respectfully yours,
<br />
<br />J.H. Sykes,
<br />F.M. ~ilder.~
<br />
<br /> Mo~ion of Mr. Moore to refer to ~he City Manager for investigation and re-
<br />port, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> ~At a meeting of the West ~ark View Garden Club, held May 6th: it was dis-
<br />cussed at lengt~n~-the feasibility of having a botanical garden at the City Home, having talked
<br />at lengt-h with Mr. Ross,_ our City gardene~, and find%ng that there was so much good land at
<br />the 0ity Ho~e with excellent soil. We see no reason why Portsmouth can not have this garden.
<br />The plan, as outlined, would serve both as a field labor~toFy for the ~chools and an emhibit
<br />for the public.
<br /> Although the garden should be planted in city-owned property, it could be
<br />planSed by various garden clubs and civic orgsnizations supervising special plots, the pres-
<br />ident said.
<br /> "The Parent-Teachers Association might .sponsor a garden that would mee~ the
<br />needs of the elementary schools.~ Perhaps some literary club might arrange a Shakespeare
<br />
<br />
<br />
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