Minutes 12/15/1916 - Laserfiche WebLink

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R, C, P. e.~ December 15, l~16. At a special meeting of the City Council December 15th there were present: ~ ~ Jno. A. Morris, W. D. Morgan, 4. Messrs--J. T. Hanvey, C. H. Herbert, The following d&rections were read for the special me~tmng~ "Portsmouth, Va., December i5, 1916. "Mr. L. P. Siater, ~City Clerk, City. "Dear Sir:-- "You will please call a special meeting o~ t~e City CounOii for this lng, December 'lSth, at 7:30 P. M., to consider a report of the. Joint Departments on Law, Welfare and Pubii¢ Safety concerning a petition of certain citizens against allowing building of stables of H. B. Wilkins ~ners he proposes ~o re-build~ even- Public the re- "Very truly, "J. T. Hanvey, President." The "call" h~ving been read, the following report was presented from the Joint DePart- ments on Law, Public Welfare ~nd Public Safety: "Portsmouth, Va., December 15th, 1916. ~Hon. City CounoiI. "Gentlemen:-- The Council at its session on December 14th, h~ving re- ferred the petition of certain petitioDers to the Departments of Law, Public Safety and Welfare, regarding the rebuilding of certain stables by H. B. Wilkins on the site formerly occupied by said stables, on his property, located on South Washington street, in which petition the claim is made, ~h~t these stables are a ~ire menace,.unsanitary and h~ve also depreciated the property in that section, submitted the following report: "After due consideration of both sides of the question of those concerned, together with the opinion of the City Attorney, it is our opinion that the Council h~s no legal right ~o~prevsnt Er. Wilkins erecting these stables on his property, unless the Council passes an 6rdinance, that will affect ali owners of stables~in the City limits, the redress ~ese petition-I ers have, is that after the ezectibn of said stables, if they are proved to be unsanitary and a menace to health, said petitioners have ample redress in the ordinance already in existence, regarding the maintaining of a nuisance. ~We further recommend that the Council request Er. H. B. Wiikins to use some power, other than steam, in theoperation of his mill. "Respectfully submitted, "Jno. A. Morris, Chmn. Dept'. of Law, "Oscie Dashiell, Chmn. Dept. of Pub. S~ety, ~W. D. Eorgan, Vice-Chmn. Dept." WelfareS. The report having been read, Mr. Herbert moved that the rules be suspended to hear from several of the petitioners and from those against. The motion was adopted and Mr. Casey and Er.~ J. T. Hedges spoke for the petitioners. The City Attorney, who was present, expressed his views as to the law bearing on the subject. Then on motion, the report was adopted as read, Mr. Wilkins to be requested to en- deavor to rebuild his stables so that they may not be objectionable to the petitioners. The Chairman of the Department of Finance presented bills of ~he City Treasurer to amount of $1;06~.65, for difference in revenue paid by the City of Portsmouth on taxes ~s allowed by the State Law; and of the Commissioner of the Revenue.to amount of $670.60, as commission taxes extended, as ~llowed by the State Law~ said bills having been referred to his Department November l~th. He then moved that the bill of the City Treasurer be allowed to amount of $?59.93 or 62% of his bill, and that the bill of the Commissioner of the Revenue be allowed to amount of $670.60, as approved by the City Attorney and the City Auditor. The motion w~s adopted, and by the following vote: Ayes--Hanvey, Herbert, Eorris, Eor~n, Er. Eorris presented a petition of the Civil & Psiioe Justice for an increase in salary, and sgid petition was referred to the Department of Finance. .In this conneotion~ Er. Morgan stated that-there had been complaint zade that the Ui~it: & Police Justice was irregular in opening his office for business, and he moved that the questio~ compl~ined of be referred to the Departments of Finance ~nd Law for investigation and report. The motion was adopted. adjourned.