Minutes 02/22/1921 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 22, 1~21 "This repo~t gives a history of the Court House of Norfolk County and certain objections to the proposed r.em~val and involves certalndeflnite recommendations to the C~ty Council the City Manager-of Portsmouth. TheTirst of these recommendations is (a) that the City.Coun- cil and the City Manager extend an invitation to the Board of'Supervisors of Norfolk County and to the Honorable Judge of the Circuit Court of Norfolk County to meet the City Council and the City Manager and make known their desires in the premises; (b) that the City be requested to direct the Legal Department of the City to take up this subject and Carefully watch any proceedings which may be instituted for the removal of The Court House from Ports- mouth to Norfolk and to take such action as may be deemed expedient to give assistance those who may oppose such removal; (c) that the City Manager be requested to take such action as may be expedient to compile the facts and ~rguments in this matter in convenient form and present the s~me to the people of Norfolk County; and that the C~uncil of the City of Ports- mouth make such appropriation as it may deem expedient for that p~rpose. "The Committee also submitted without approval or disapproval a general scheme for the improvement of the Court House property, for consideration of the mass meeting, to be submit- ted~ with the approval of the mass meeting, to the City Manager and the City Council. Brief- ly stated, this scheme involves the erection by the City and the County of a six story build- ing located at the corner of High and Court Sts. on the site now occupied by the COurt House, at an estimated cost of $800,000. it being calculated that the income from rent of st~es, offices and auditorium in this building would s~mount to $61,000. This sum would provide in- terest and sinking fund for the investment. The first floor of this building would ~e occupied by stores; the second floor by City and County court rooms and offices for Judges ana Attorneys; the third floor by all City offices and Clerk's 0ffioe on one side, and the County offices and County Clerk's office on the other; foUrth floor to be rented for offices for professional and business men; fifth floor for a large auditorium for the City and County; the sixth floor to be used for the City Jail. "~Nith reference to the foregoing recommendations of the meeting, I suggest to the Coun- cil of the City the propriety o~ extending sm invit~tion in the name of the Council to the Board of Supervisors of NorfoIk County and the Hon. Judge of the Circuit Cottrt of Norfolk County, to meet the City Council and the City Manager on a specified date. e! have directed the City Attorney to bea~v this subjeo~ in mind and take the necessary steps should the agitation f~r removal ta~ke active form. I suggest that an appropri&tion of $100. be made so as to permit me to have printed a small pamphlet for distribution se~ing forth the facts and arguments in the c~se. ,So far as the proposed building is concerned, I think ~ could probablyc~et a reliable architect to make preliminary study of the question with~at expense to ~he ry. This method is, however, objectionable as it would naturally more or less commit me to employ the same ~- ohitect in case the proposition took concrete form. "I, therefore, believe it best to take no specific action at present looking.~o the pre- paration of the' plans for the building. ! will, however, get in touch with theC~ authori- ties with a view to getting their attitude on the matter and if it Seems probable.~"+that they ~ interested, it would then be proper to-appoint a joint City ~n~ County comm£ssion on ~h~ proposition, with authority to employ a competent architect~" Whereupon, Mr. Hall moved that the Board of Supervisors of Norfolk County and the Judge of the Circuit Court of Norfolk County be requested to meet the City Council and the City Man- ager on a specified dmte with regard to recommendations made by the Committee of Ten. The motion-was adopted. Manager ~ M~. Esleeck moved that the recommendation that $100. be all~wsd:%~/to have printed a small p~mPhtet for distribution setting forth the facts s~ud s~gUments Concerning proposed removml of the County seat to Norfolk, be referred to the Finance committee. Ado~tSd. 6th. Forwarded, without recommendation, communication from Captain R~cert B. McDonald, with reg&rd to re-establishment of Grimes Battery in Portsmouth, conveying thefollowtng sug- ges~ions made to him: lst~ That the City build a storage shed, and an assembly room on the ground adjacent to the City 8tables and turn the City Stables over to the Battery for use. 2nd~ ~he abandonment of the City Markets ~nd the use of the lower floor of the A~mory Build- ing as a gun room and the present veget~ole market ~uilding for Stables. On motion, the oommuniomtions were referred to the Finance Committee. yth. Submitted bills from the City Sergea~t for ~a~e of City prisoners during the months of November, December and Jmnumry, s~gg~egatlng $251.26, and suggesting an ~ppropriation of $1~00. to cover bills of the Sergeant for November and December of last year and for the an- ticipated bills for th~ calendar year 1921. On motion, ~he matter was referred to the Finance Committee. Sth. The following communication with regard to converting the northern half of the new cemetery in~o a park: "There has been considerable agitation in the last few dmys in regard to converting the norther~half of the new cemetery into a park. "This would undoubtedly be very desirabl~,.in future yea~s, ms it would give a much needed pleasure g~ound for the City, which is now entirely lacking. "I deem it well, however, to point out that the proposed project would be fo~ or five miles from ~he City with ppor car service. ! also believe at present it is too remote for a~m~n s~nd onitdmen to us~w~thout male esoczts. In mddition, one acre of the no~the=n p~vt has been sold to the Federal Government, and the whole of the northern section laid off in roads and platted into lots at considerable exp~nse~ "The City Cemeteries are at present a losing pro.D~sltion for the City. I had figured