Minutes 01/13/1925 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 13, 1925 5th. "In ~ccordanoe with your i~stractions, I beg to suggest that_the store owned by the 0ity at the corner of Washington and C.ounty Sts., he remodeled and fitted up for the 0ivil Oou~t. The cost.of re~modeling, inc. ludmmg pa~$itions and sanitary arrangements will be $500.00, the cost of fur~i~t~e--$300.O0, m~k~ng the total cost $~00. O0. To provide for the Circuit Oou~t, I recommend that.a partitionlbe run alongside 'the southern end of the Council Ohsm~ber cutting off space fifteen feet wide. This space then be divided by a cross partition Lnto two rooms, f~nishi~g a proper o~ffice for the City M~nager ~nd for his assists~uts. The partition at She north end_o~f She Oo,mucil Ohamber may then be removed, giving a Oouncil 0hamber of the same size as the p~eeent Ohamber. The office now used by the City ~a~er could then be used as a jury room ~ud the 0ity E~$gineer put in the office now oc~apied b~ the assistants to the City Manager. The cost of this work will be $600°00, provision for which has been m~de in the budget." On motion, the commu~uication was referred to the Finance Committee. 6th. "In the e~cmtion of the storm drain work in the Eighth Ward, the Oounoil authorized curbing on Douglas Ave. which had not been oomtemplated when the contract for the storm drains was let. The installation of the curbing, of course, did away with the ditches in this vicinity which had to be replaced by d~ains. This extra pipe s~d other minor items found necessary, less deductions from contract, cost $4104.38. In addition, it w~s found necesse~y on account of bad foundations to place oyster shells ~d boards under nearly all of the pipe. The cost-of this extra foundation work amountSd to practically $4,000,00 more, making ~ total, unauticipated cost of some $8,000.00. As a result, the work will cost $3,300.00 in excess of the amount al- lotted to it. I am therefore re~mmending that $4,000.00 additional be allotted to this wqrk from Eighth Wa~d funds to cover the items indicated a~d further miner items which will probably arise during the oompleti$~oof the contract." On motion, the recommendation was refer~ed to the Finance Oommittee. ?th. "In accor~noe, with the ~uthorit~ of the Council, the Superintendent of the ~ater Department ~d I were in consultation with representatives of the War Department on Tuesday, January 6th. After an extended and detsiled discussion, the ~ represents, tives agree~ ena valse for the improvements m~de by the Federal Government to ~he Portsmouth water plant an~ also~ as to terms of payment.s~ud rate of interest. It is deemed best tS withhold further details of'this conference until the m~tter has been approved by the Secretary of We~. After this approval, I would recommend that the report be made to a conference of the Codicil, as publication of figures at the present time would be unwise and might ~lso emba~ass the Federal Government~ in its negotiations with other or-course, if the Oouncil desires a~ irm~ediate report, it c~ be made~ but again, I believe it Shoul~ be made in a conference rather than in a public meeting. I ~m~y add that the amount arrived a~, the ter~ms of payment a~ud the rate of interest are r?gs~ded, bo~h by the S~erintendent of the Water Department and myself, as favorable to the Oztyo" On motion, the communication was ordered to be filed. 8th. "On January 12th, bids were opened by the Purchasing Agent on new Ford~equipment authorized in the budget for 1925. In receiving the bids, it w~s found that the allowange on the old equipment was beiow~ou~ estimmte and in order ~o purchase the new equipment,.mt will be necessary to appropriate~$5~.O0 as follows: ~olmce Dept~ Ford Oar for Chief, $150.00; Ford car for Plumbing Inspector, $125.00; General Repamrs, Tractor, $175.00; I ton truck ~o~ 0ity.Stables, $125.00. ! therefore recommend that the necessary appropriation of $5?5.00 for the purchase of the new Ford eTaipment be made." On motion, the recommendation was referred to the Finance 0ommittee. 9th. "I have been infe~aed by the Director of the Norfolk-Portsmouth Freight Traffic Commission that the State Oo~poration 0ommission would held in Richmond at 9:00 o'clock Satur- day, January l7th, a hearing onpilotage rates. The Director suggests that should theOity of Portsmouth desire to be represented at this hearing, it n~me a representative. ~ni!e there is but little direct shipping from Portsmouth, it is a matter in which the City is vitally interested s~ud I therefore suggest that a rep~esentative be designated to attend this h~aring. The Director can furnish ou~ representative with all.data covering the ~bject. As i will probably be absent in Connection wit~ the ferry app~amsal business, it will'not be possible for me personally to attend the meeting." On motion of Mr. Brooks, the recommendation of the M~er was not oon~arred in. 10th. ,At a meeting of the Council on T~esday, November 18th, 1924, it w~s ~greed as follows:' 'That the City would allow the use of the ends of Lincoln, Henry, Raudolph, Harri- son ~ud~he Sts., all or any of them, b~the United States Government for theLighthouse servi~ ~or so long .as they are used for the purpose granted. ~ I am now informed by C~otain H. D. King, Supt, of Lighthouses, Fifth District, that a preliminary contract has been made a~d approved by the Department o£ Oommercei covering the purchase by the Lighthouse service of a portion of the property of the Seaboard Wh~f and Warehouse Company, Inc., north of and $~tj~oent to the Lighthouse Depot in Portsmouth, V~., as shown on attached blue print. Oaptain King desires that the Oity have dr~w~up a suitable ' f~rm of grant i~erpetuity of a nLue year.lease ~enewable, covering the ~se~~ the Lighthouse