Minutes 10/28/1930 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 28, 1930 At a regular meeting of the 0ity 0ouncil held October 28th there were present: Messrs~ Vernon Brcoks~ W. R. Hutohins, E. W. ~aupin, Jr., Arthur Mayo, J. Alden Oast, ArohibaldOgg, J. ~. Stewart, ?. Also the 0ityN~uager. The minutes of the regular meeting 0otober 14th were read and were approved. The following communications were read from the City Mznsger: 1st. UAt the last meeting of the 'City Oouncit, I was requested to investigate ~nd make recommendation in regard the following matters- re ~u~st of the West Palvk View Ga=den Cl~o that curb and guttering be pimped on Matthews Terrace ~ud part cT Ward Terrace and on the 1700 block of McDaniel St.; that the bridge over Scott's ~reek at Spratley St. be rebuilt, We ~ll adm&t the desirability of thecUr~ and guttering on the s~ree~ ~entioned a~d I would like very much to recommend that an appropriation be made at this time for the work, but can not see my way clear to do so, because we s,re not in position to appropriat~ the money. Realizing its need azfd desirability, I ~sspectfully reco~end that we give this matter consideration at as early date as possible, when we have mo~nform~tion on our probable income~than we have at present. I hesitate somewhat in even suggesting that i~ ~e ~eferr~ to thelbudget b~c~u'se I haralysee kow it can possibly be provided for in the ou~gem, as mne preparation of the budget is so close at Attached you will find copy of report from the Engineering Department in regard to the Spratle[ St. bridge. I recommend that this m~tter be referred to a future c~nference of the Oouncil either on the budget or' at some later date. I am of the opinion that if could be made available for a new foot bridge, it would be money well spent ~ndl would a service ~hich is now appreciated by the people in that section, and has been a great ience to ~hem in the past. I also believe it would be well to look into the advisability of construct~tng a causeway similar to the one the City oonstrucSed a few years ago at the foot of Dinwiddie St., at some later date." ~r. Stewart moved that the privilege of the floor be granted to any one who may desire to speak on th~ subject. The motion was adopted, and Smith R. Brittingham and Mrs. Lela Triplett sp~ke. Mr. Stewart moved that the City Manager be instructed $$ report on streets that should be curbed and guttered, in order of their importance, and cost per lineal ~oot, The motion was adopted. On motion of Mr.-Hu~chins, the communication from the Manager with reference to the Spratley street bridge was referred to 'the 1~31 Budget. 2nd. #I respectfully report that the actual work of assessing property in the City of Portsmouth has been completed. The assessors have set the week beginning Ncvember~lyth for publlo .hearings. The clerical force will have theirwork in order so they will be able to give information to the taxpayers from November ?th to !Yth, inclusive. I have endeavored as best i could to supervise the work since its beginning. I feel it my duty, however, to report to you.my observations of the work now it is completed, as to the results obtained and the effect it will have on the citizens as a whole during the four year period. The ordinance states that the assessors shall ascertain and assess property at the fair m~ket value thereof. Fully realizing that there are many differences of opinion on the manner and methods used to determine the amount of the assessment of many parcels of property, I believe-the as- sessment ~s made in a large nuhber of instances, does not carry out the intent of the law. I further feel that the assessment is not equalized. The Plates, as added, indicate th~unless the assessment is corrected the Oity Oouncll will be forced to vote for an unusual r~se in t~e t~x rate ~o even ~ain~in a min~i~u~_ amount of service to our citizens so essential to their happiness an~ generaA we&mare. A con dition that would further curtail the essential services badly needed from d~ to day would, in my opinion, b~ disastrous to our citizens ~nd would cause a lack of appreciation of our.city in the minds of our people that would retard us for many years. Our outstanding bonds must be properly protected and we must not permit the city's credit to be s~ffected to such an extent that we-can not dispose of our p~per in the New York market. This would cost us thousands of dolls~vs each year. ~ay I conclude by stating that, to my mind, this is one of themost important matters that any 0ity 0ouncil in Portsmouth h~s had before it in many years ~ud is one that needs the fullest investigation; that not only does its importance lie with the Council, but with the oStizens and taxpayers themselves. In order that it may receive the consideration necesssmy, all citizens.and the taxpayers, both la,ge and small, ~s well as the Council, must look at the matter from this angle ,what should be done for the 0ity as a whole' ~nd work to the end that the ~axes will be equalized as far as possible and that it can not be said that any citi- zen i~ not proerly assessed as to his or her respective holdings, with all facts obtainable inhand to determine the values." In connection with this matter, Mr. Stewart presented the following resolution and moved its a~option: